Robredo: Putting a stop to vote-buying is on the police, Comelec

Putting a stop to vote-buying is ultimately the responsibility of the police and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Vice President Leni Robredo said Saturday.

Robredo made the response when asked about her earlier suggestion that voters who are offered money should take the money but vote for their preferred candidate, regardless of who he or she is.

Robredo made the response when asked for advice on how to deal with vote-buying by a group of household service workers who support her 2022 presidential bid.

"Bawat eleksyon, nagrereklamo kami na ang vote buying activities na nangyayari sa paligid namin ay tuluy-tuloy, hindi natin naiimplement yung batas na maayos, and dahil dito, lalo lang na parang namamayagpag 'yung mga namimili ng boto," Robredo said during the Presidential Interviews conducted by award-winning journalist Jessica Soho.

(Every election, we always complain about rampant vote-buying. The law is not being properly implemented and these vote buyers are thriving.)

"'Yung sa akin, tayong mga hindi naniniwala sa pagbibili ng boto, ano yung gagawin natin? Sasabihin natin na kahit kayo nag-receive, kahit kayo tumanggap ay dapat gamitin niyo pa rin yung konsensya niyo. Pero sa akin Jessica 'yung realities on the ground nangyayari siya e, nangyayari siya and it is up for government, Comelec, 'yung PNP (Philippine National Police), kung sino pang mga law enforcement agencies, na siguruhin sana na hindi ito pinapayagan," Robredo added.

(For those of us who are against vote-buying, we say people should accept the money but use your conscience in casting their vote. But there are realities on the ground, and it is up to the government, Comelec, PNP, and law enforcement agencies to stop vote-buying.)

— DVM, GMA News