Comelec chair urges voters to reject vote buying

Four days before the start of the May 12 election campaign period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia urged voters to reject vote buying and selling.

Garcia emphasized that ending these practices requires voter participation in rejecting offers of money for votes.

He warned that accepting such offers is an insult and takes advantage of people's poverty and hunger.

The Omnibus Election Code defines vote buying as offering money or value to influence voting behavior, while vote selling involves receiving expenditures in exchange for votes.

Garcia stressed the importance of rejecting these practices during the 90-day campaign period starting February 11.

He called on voters to have the courage to resist vote buying and support candidates who do not engage in such activities.