Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez reminded the public that vote-buying is an election offense "regardless of financial situation or noble intentions."
In a tweet on Wednesday, Jimenez said he disagrees with the notion of taking the money and voting according to your conscience.
“I disagree with the notion of taking the money and voting according to your conscience. Di dapat ginagawa, at di dapat sina-suggest yan sa mga botante,” the spokesman said in a Twitter post.
“Vote buying is an election offense regardless of financial situation or noble intentions. Di dapat ginagawa, at di dapat sina-suggest yan sa mga botante,” Jimenez said.
I disagree with the notion of taking the money and voting according to your conscience. Vote buying is an election offense regardless of financial situation or noble intentions. Di dapat ginagawa, at di dapat sina-suggest yan sa mga botante.
— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) October 26, 2021
Not dropping any names but seems like Jimenez's remark stemmed from the statement of presidential aspirant, Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday where she told voters to take the politician’s money, but vote based on their conscience.
This was the response of Robredo during an online meeting with household workers supportive of her presidential bid when she was asked about her opinion on vote-buying.
She also advised voters to choose candidates based on their conscience and not because they feel indebted to the politicians.
"Huwag kang boboto dahil pakiramdam mo mayroon kang utang na loob kasi tinanggap mo, ‘di ba? Iyong sa akin, tanggapin mo iyong pera, pero iboto sa konsensya," Robredo said.
[Don't vote because you feel indebted that you accepted the money. For me, accept the money and vote based on your conscience.]
"Kasi na-imagine mo... 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, 'Oh, hindi effective iyong pagbibili ko ng boto,'" she added.
[Because imagine this... If next time someone who bought votes loses when the election results come out, he or she would begin thinking. Next time, he or she would say, "Oh, my vote-buying was not effective at all."]
