MANILA – A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official urged the public to report any incident of vote buying as the campaign for the 2019 midterm elections started.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday that incidents of vote buying includes giving away of gadgets, cash and other items, which is an election offense.
“Mga taumbayan, maki-bantay po kayo. Sabihin nila trabaho ‘yan ng Comelec, bakit nila gawin? Maawa naman po kayo samin. Kung gusto niyo talaga ng malinis na halalan, tumulong po ang taong bayan sana,” Guanzon said.
The Bacolodnon Comelec official added: “Ang hinihingi namin makibantay na lang rin kayo dahil hindi namin kaya na bantayan lahat ‘yan.”
Guanzon also pleaded to candidates and the public not to participate in vote buying as it tarnishes the image of election in the country.
“Sana matigil na ang vote buying para naman maayos itong election natin,” Guanzon said. “Sana ‘yung mga botante ‘wag na lang kayong magbenta ng boto n’yo kasi ‘yan mahirap para sa Comelec na bantayan at ‘yan talaga nakakasira sa election natin.”/PN
