Leni on vote buying: Take the money but vote based on conscience

“Mali iyong pagbibili ng boto, pero iyong sinasabi ko sa tao, tanggapin n’yo. Parati kong sinasabi tanggapin n’yo kasi galing din naman ‘yan sa atin. Iyong pinangbibili ng boto, pera rin ‘yan ng taongbayan,” Robredo advised.

“Tatanggapin mo pero ang iboboto mo kung sino’ng nasa konsenya mo,” the vice president added.

Robredo noted that vote-buying is illegal and is difficult to catch, especially as online apps made vote-buying easier.

“Pero ngayon kasi madali na. Kasi ngayon, may GCash, ‘di ba? May GCash ngayon, so madali na iyong bilihan ng boto,” she said.

Robredo also told voters that they should not vote thinking that they are indebted to a candidate for accepting the money. She noted that there are no means for the candidates, even the poll watchers, to know which candidate they voted for.

“Ang assurance ko lang sa lahat, wala silang way na malalaman kung ano iyong binoto kasi iyon iyong pantakot nila, eh. ‘Yon iyong pantakot nila na, ‘Malalaman ko kung ano iyong boto mo’,” she said.

The presidential candidate also believes that voting according to conscience would make an effect on vote-buying candidates.

“Kapag mayroong namili ng boto pero paglabas ng resulta ng eleksyon, talo siya. Next time, mag-iisip na iyon. Next time mag-iisip na iyon na, ‘O, hindi effective iyong pagbibili ko ng boto’,” Robredo said.

Comelec disagrees

Meanwhile, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez begged to disagree with Robredo’s advice. In a tweet, Jimenez said that vote-buying is an “election offense” regardless of the situation.

“I disagree with the notion of taking the money and voting according to your conscience. Vote buying is an election offense regardless of the financial situation or noble intentions. Di dapat ginagawa at di dapat sina suggest yan sa mga botante,” his post read.