VP Binay on vote buying: Take the money, vote for preferred bet

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday advised voters in Sultan Kudarat to accept money that will be offered by vote-buyers during the 2016 elections.

 

Binay, however, advised voters during his speech at Sultan Kudarat's 68th founding anniversary on Tuesday, that after accepting the money they should still vote for their preferred candidates.

 

"Nakakahiya naman dun sa nagbibigay. Tanggapin ninyo yung pera, ilagay n'yo sa bulsa, bumoto sang-ayon sa inyong kursonada. After all, ang perang iniaabot sa inyo na pambili ng inyong boto, pera po 'yan ng bayan," the vice president said.



Binay is running for president in the 2016 elections under the United Nationalist Alliance.

 

The vice president also told voters that a lot of cash will be given out during next year's elections.

 

"Babaha ang pera. Babaha parang tubig. Isipin na lamang ninyo yung kung sinasabing naipon ng pamahalaan, daan-daang milyon. Wow," Binay said.

 

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma, meanwhile, told GMA News in a text message that the government remains committed to keeping the 2016 elections clean and honorable.

 

"Naninindigan ang pamahalaan sa pagdaraos ng isang maayos, tapat at makabuluhang halalan na katanggap-tanggap sa sambayanan. Tungkulin ng mga mamamayan na itanghal ang integridad ng pagboto," he wrote.

 

During his speech, Binay also defended himself from allegations of corruption.

 

He said he has never been convicted for any of the alleged anomalies that went on during his time as the mayor of Makati City.

 

The Senate Blu Ribbon sub-committee headed by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Antonio Trillanes IV will resume its hearings on the alleged overpricing of the 11-storey Makati City Hall II Parking building, the 22-storey Makati City Hall Building, and the alleged irregular transactions entered into by Pag-IBIG Fund and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines under Binay's leadership.

 

Binay compared the Senate hearings to a "teleserye" and that it could be a candidate for the Guinness World Records.

 

"Yes, that will be a candidate already for Guiness Books. Biro mo, that will be the first anniversary of the teleserye in the Senate," Binay said. —Rie Takumi/DVM/ALG, GMA News