Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a presidential aspirant, on Wednesday gave his take on the issue of vote-buying, tagging the act as both “illegal and immoral.”
“That is illegal and immoral. First, receiving the bribe money is already engaging in vote buying [which] is a violation of law, therefore, illegal. Secondly, accepting the money and voting with your conscience [which] is voting for another candidate other than the bribing candidate is akin to “estafa.” Therefore, immoral,” Dela Rosa said in a statement.
“The better advice is not to accept the money and report the vote buyer directly to the police,” the former national police chief added.
Arguments on vote-buying were raised after Vice President Leni Robredo, another presidential aspirant, said Filipinos who are offered money in exchange for their vote should take the money but vote for their preferred candidate.
Robredo has since clarified her remark, saying on Wednesday that she never condones it and was just pointing out realities on the ground.
Apart from Dela Rosa and Robredo, other presidential aspirants namely Leody de Guzman, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao issued separate statements on vote buying.
On Wednesday morning, Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez maintained that vote buying is still an election offense.
“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,” Jimenez tweeted.
“Di dapat ginagawa, at di dapat sina-suggest yan sa mga botante,” he added.
(That should not be practiced and that should not be suggested to the voters.)
Vote buying and vote selling are considered as an election offense under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA News
Bato: Accepting vote bribe illegal, not voting for vote buyer is estafa
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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