Philippines – Local retail company National Book Store has pulled out money envelopes from its ‘election materials essentials’ collection following a request from the Philippines Commission on Elections (COMELEC), according to a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
National Book Store president and CEO Adrian Ramos has assured COMELEC in a letter that the order to eliminate coin and small money envelopes in the said category has been disseminated to all of its branches nationwide.
Ramos’ letter read, “While we understand and appreciate your point that small money/coin envelopes might be used in illegal activities such as vote-buying during election season, we assure your good office that there was no malice nor any ill-intention on our part to attribute the marketing and use of the said envelopes to vote-buying.”
He said National Book Store remains compliant with COMELEC’s rules and is “supportive of its programs.”
COMELEC’s request letter, signed by chairman George Erwin Garcia, cited the “in-store marketing strategy” as potentially spreading the idea of vote buying as a norm.
Though acknowledging that the envelopes can be used for purposes such as payments for watchers and suppliers, COMELEC sought a “corrective action” to prevent the normalisation of vote buying.
“We do not wish to interfere on how National Book Store conducts its business, but we also worry that impressionable children and minors who frequent your stores may be led to believe that the illegal practice of vote buying is societally condoned,” Garcia said.
MARKETECH APAC has reached out to Ramos for more information.
Besides money envelopes, National Book Store’s ‘election materials essentials’ include pens, glue, scissors, and stamp pads.
The 90-day campaign period for the 2025 midterm national elections in the Philippines began on February 11 to May 10, 2025, applying to senatorial candidates and party-list groups.
Meanwhile, candidates for local posts begin their campaign from March 28 until May 10, 2025. The Philippines’ election day is on May 12.
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