A popular bookstore chain on Friday said it will pull out the money and coin envelopes it sells after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) called it out for labeling it as “Election Materials Essentials” in one of its branches.

The poll body wrote a letter to National Bookstore president Adrian Ramos on 17 March to express its concern over the description of the red envelopes customarily used for money gifts.

The envelopes are sold alongside stationary supplies like pens, scissors, glue, folders, among other things.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the poll body feared the marketing strategy “may normalize vote buying and/or the rampant distribution of money during elections.”

“[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,” he added.

In response, Ramos assured Garcia the money envelopes will be pulled out of all their branches nationwide.

“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 envelopes to vote-buying,” he said.

Garcia, responding in another letter to Ramos on Friday, thanked him for his understanding of the poll body’s request.