Robredo wants stricter implementation of law vs vote-buying

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called for the public to take their right to vote seriously amid reports of vote-buying across the country.

Robredo said that her office had been receiving reports of vote-buying cases in different parts of the country, especially in local polls.

“Inoobserbahan ko lang kahapon iyong mga report na pumapasok sa telepono ko. Kahit dito sa amin, parang iyong mga nagsusumbong ng vote-buying, parang mas lalong umigting. Parang mas lalong umigting ngayong eleksyon na ito,” Robredo said in “BISErbisyong LENI,” her weekly program aired over AM station DZXL.

Because of these reports, the vice president sought for election laws to be amended to have a stricter implementation of rules against vote-buying.

“Sana makahanap tayo ng mga amendments sa ating election laws na ginagawang mas mahigpit iyong—hindi lang iyong mga penalties, pero sana makahanap tayo ng paraan para nape-prevent iyong ganito, kasi kapag pabayaan natin ito, talagang gagrabe lang nang gagrabe,” Robredo said.

Robredo also called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly monitor election-related irregularities, adding that the problem of vote-buying must be taken seriously.

“Pag-aralan iyong iba’t ibang modelo ng electoral system sa buong mundo, at titingnan kung ano ba iyong mga best practices na puwede nating ma-adopt dito sa atin, dahil grabe na,” Robredo said.

“Walang napaparusahan. Alam ng lahat na nangyayari, pero walang napaparusahan. Kaya iyong sa akin lang, seryosohin na natin ito,” she added.

Robredo, for her part, insisted that the best approach to gain votes is still immersing in the communities rather than buying votes

The vice president then called for voters that they still vote for deserving leaders even if they received money from candidates.

“Sana pahalagahan, pahalagahan iyong kanilang boto. At sana iyong ibang mga nakaranas ng bilihan, sana kahit tumanggap, iyong iboto pa din iyong nararapat, kasi kung binoboto kung sino lang iyong nagbigay ng pera, parang kabahagi ka na ng bilihan ng sistema,” Robredo said.

“Kaya iyong sa akin lang, iyong pakiusap na kung tumanggap man sila ng mga pera, sana hindi iyon iyong maging dahilan para iboto nila iyong partikular na kandidato,” she added. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)