Vice President Leni Robredo has defended her previous remark on vote-buying after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is an election offense "regardless of financial situation or noble intentions."
On Wednesday, Comelec spokesman James 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.
In a statement, Robredo said vote-buying has been rampant over the years and that it would be hard to hold accountable those politicians who are vote-buying.
"'Yong sinabi ko kahpaon na vote-buying, mali 'yon, pero over the years very rampant siya dito sa atin. Very rampant ang vote buying, and ang frustrating dito kasi hindi maayos yun pag-implement ng regulations against vote buying," Robredo said.
Robredo on Tuesday 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.
