Moreno: Money can’t sway Filipino voters, but can’t blame them if they take it

FILE PHOTO: Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — For Manila City Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, money cannot persuade Filipino voters to choose a particular candidate but no one should also blame them if they accept it.

According to him, the “Filipino is intelligent” and politicians should not think lowly of them. Although he also acknowledged that some may still not help it and give in to receiving the money — especially amid the ongoing health crisis.

“Hindi mo masisisi ang tao na tumatanggap ng pera sa hirap ng buhay. Ngunit matalino ang Pilipino. Alam nila kung sino ang tunay na lider na may malasakit sa kanila at kung sino ang fake,” Moreno said.

(You cannot blame a person for accepting the money due to the hardships of life today. But the Filipino is intelligent.  They know who is the leader who truly cares for them and who are the fake ones.)

“Hindi kayang maliitin ng mga pulitiko ang pag-unawa ng tao. Matalino ang Pilipino,” he added.

(Politicians cannot underestimate human understanding. The Filipino is intelligent.)

Vote-buying became the day’s topic after Vice President Leni Robredo, who is also seeking the presidency, saw herself in hot water after she told an audience of a forum to just accept the money from a politician, as the amount could have also come from taxpayers, but still vote according to his or her conscience. She was responding to a query on what an individual should do if in the presence of a candidate who is into a vote-buying activity.

She even reiterated that people should use their conscience when choosing who to vote for, assuring that politicians have no means of knowing who they voted.

Consequently, a Commission on Elections official emphasized that vote-buying is an illegal act. Robredo subsequently clarified that she is against vote-buying, as she has been fighting it for years, and was merely acknowledging “realities on the ground.” She then cited the weak implementation of election laws to effectively address the matter.

Another presidential candidate, Senator Manny Pacquiao, was also dragged into the issue after he was accused of buying votes as he gives money to people he would come across in his recent trips.

Social media users have criticized Pacquiao, but he stressed that he has been giving away cash as part of his advocacy since 2002 — way before he became a local politician.

On Tuesday, Pacquiao said those who criticize his provision of financial assistance could be jealous of the fact that he has been helping people for a long time now.

KGA