Over 400 complaints of vote buying and abuse of state resources (ASR) have been reported ahead of the May 12 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported on Thursday.

According to Comelec-Committee on Kontra-Bigay chairperson Commissioner Ernesto Maceda, a total of 439 vote-buying and ASR complaints have been filed with the poll body as of May 8.

Of the number, 268 were about vote buying, 130 were about ASR, and 41 about both vote buying and ASR.

Maceda said the most common types of vote buying reported were money distribution, cash assistance, and giving anything of value.

On the other hand, ASR acts were in the form of “ayuda” or social welfare assistance, he said.

“We are already approaching 450 total reports on vote buying and ASR,” said Maceda in a media forum in Manila. “We will be evaluating and see if it merits the filing of an election offense and petition for disqualification.”

For his part, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said they are ready to suspend proclamation of winning candidates with pending disqualification cases.

“In suspending proclamation, there must be strong evidence and not based on mere gossip,” he said.

“We cannot suspend all of them because we also have to weigh in on the will of the voters,” Garcia added. (PNA)