Comelec chief debunks vote buying during Duterte HK rally

The Commission on Elections debunked Tuesday reports that vote-buying activities were conducted at a Hong Kong rally attended by former president Rodrigo Duterte and daughter Vice President Sara Duterte.

“‘Yan po ay fake news, ‘yan ay misinformation. Huwag kaagad natin paniniwalaan ‘yung mga nakalagay sa social media,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

“Sa sobrang media na nandun sa Hong Kong, lalo na ‘yung local media natin, imposible naman po na hindi ‘yan ma-mo-monitor o hindi ‘yan makikita. Imposible din na walang magsasabi na kami ay in-offer-an ng 200 Hong Kong dollars,” he added.

The Comelec chief said the poll body is also contacting the Hong Kong Consulate to verify the reports. 

Unverified reports earlier claimed OFWs at the campaign rally were offered money to vote for senatorial candidates backed by the ex-president. Scores of Filipino voters flocked to the Southorn Stadium to hear Duterte speak.  

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Garcia said similar vote-buying claims also came out in Quezon City and Baguio but remained unverified, with no citizen coming forward to admit they received money to vote for a candidate.

Comelec will take no action against candidates accused of vote-buying, he said.

“Ito po talaga yung panahon na tataas ang bilang ng  mga misinformation, disinformation at fake news sa ating social media. Maging mapagmatyag tayo, mag-verify at mag check. Laging magpa-fact-checking,” he said.

“Sa kasalukuyan, bakit kami gagawa ng aksyon. Napaka-unfair naman sa mga maakusahan,” he added.

The Comelec chief said he doubts vote-buying will be conducted this early in the campaign, months before the actual election. 

“Useless ang pamimili ng boto, makakalimutan kaagad ng botante. Ang pamimili ng boto gamit ang G-Cash, PayMaya at iba pang e-wallet ay mga 2 days to 3 days before the election,” he said.