Benjamin E Diokno: Message for Digital Voters Education Campaign
Message of Mr Benjamin E Diokno, Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, the central bank of the Philippines), for the Digital Voters Education Campaign Collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and FinTech Alliance.ph, Manila, 22 February 2022.
The views expressed in this speech are those of the speaker and not the view of the BIS.
To the good men and women of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, National Movement for Free Elections, and Fintech Alliance.ph, good day to all.
The conduct of free, fair, and orderly elections is a necessary condition for a working democracy.
A person's vote is sacred. It reflects his aspirations for his family, community, and country.
But some individuals and groups have corrupted this democratic exercise by engaging in vote-buying and selling.
Digital payment channels, which have made life easier for us during the pandemic, are at risk of being misused and abused by these evil forces.
Today, we will witness a memorandum of understanding that aims to equip citizens with the skills and discernment to guard against such nefarious practices. Today marks the start of an education campaign collaboration that will help citizens better detect and prevent e-vote buying in the 2022 national and local elections.
Recently, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the National Bureau of Investigation have joined forces for this very purpose.
The BSP has also called on the financial institutions under its supervision to enhance their surveillance and monitoring mechanisms against digital vote-buying and selling.
In this crusade, each and every one of us has a role to play. After all, preserving the integrity of the upcoming elections is a responsibility shared by all of us.
This MOU is a step in that direction and in the conduct of free, fair, and orderly elections.
Thank you.