Panelo suggests gov’t spend for candidates’ campaign expenses

MANILA – Amid reports of vote-buying across the country in the recent midterm polls, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday suggested that government spend for the campaign of candidates running for public office.

“Ako ang iniisip ko, alam ninyo kung ano, para walang gastos ang mga kandidato (You know what I’m thinking, so that candidates won’t have to spend), the government should spend for the expenses of the candidates just like in America,” said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a Palace briefing.

Panelo, however, clarified that this is his personal suggestion and he has yet to inform President Rodrigo Duterte about his idea.

“We will ask him. I will ask him kung ano ang kanyang iniisip about this (what he thinks about this),” Panelo said.

Quoting the President, Panelo said until there are poor people in the country, vote-buying will remain.

“Gaya nga ng paliwanag ni Presidente hangga’t merong mahihirap, di mawawala iyong vote-buying, kasi kailangan nila ng pera (As the President explained, while there are poor people, vote-buying will never cease to exist because they need money),” Panelo said.

On Monday, Duterte described vote-buying as an “integral” part of election but reminded that candidates caught vote-buying would be prosecuted to the full strength of the law.