The Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed on Tuesday that a candidate allegedly used Universal Storefront Services Corporation (USSC) cards for vote buying.
USSC offers various financial services, including e-wallets, prepaid cards and domestic money transfers.
In a radio interview, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the poll body is investigating an alleged vote buying of a congressional bet in Quezon City using cash cards.
“It’s more modern now. There’s something called USSCs nowadays,” Garcia explained in Filipino.
While he did not name the candidate yet, Garcia said he believes that giving cash cards is also equivalent to vote buying.
“We’re now waiting for the final report from the Kontra Bigay Committee on that matter,” he added.
Garcia previously explained that USSC cards function like SIM cards, but instead of calls or data, they can be used in accredited stores for purchases or discounts.
He added that if the cards were issued during the campaign, “it’s really vote buying.”
According to Garcia, the poll body has logged 123 cases of vote buying.