3rd district candidates trade allegations

Candidates in the Cebu third district have traded accusations of violations of election laws, particularly on the use of government vehicles in the campaign sorties of incumbents.

Pablo John Garcia, for one, alleged that when he was in Toledo City Tuesday, he saw for himself the vehicles with red plates being used by incumbent candidates in their whole day campaign sorties there.

Reelectionist Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo, for her part, admitted that she used her government vehicle but clarified that it was part of her job as a mayor and not for campaigning.

She countered, however, that there were multicabs, bearing the "One Cebu" tag of the political party that Pablo John belongs, used in the nightly fora of candidates in the city.

Mayor Zambo said, "Dili ko mahadlok nga ila kung ipa-disqualify. I am doing it since 2001 when I assume the mayorship."

She added that if the Pablo John camp could prove she uses government vehicles for her campaign sorties then she has also evidences that this camp are doing the same.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines provides that the use of public funds, money deposited in trust, equipment, facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign is an election offense.

Pablo John, when pressed to name the candidates, said he was referring to Reps. Antonio Yapha and Clavel Asas-Martinez, who are in their last term as district representatives in the third and fourth, respectively.

Both are now seeking for new posts however, with Yapha running against incumbent Governor Gwen Garcia, the sister of Pablo John, and Martinez running against Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

"I’m gathering the evidence and I can execute and affidavit because I saw for myself the violation," Pablo John said.

Acting Comelec provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillo, in a separate interview with reporters yesterday, said his office will wait for a formal complaint filed first before giving any statement on the matter.

"Dili madala sa Comelec ang tanan kay wala pud ta’y tawo nga mobantay especially sa mga municipalities. Kung mahimo ang private citizens ang mo-reklamo kung unsa’y ilang nakitang violations ug dili necessary pa ang mga kandidato maoy mangunay sa pag-reklamo," Castillo said.

Castillo said it would be more prudent that the filing of the complaint does not start from the Comelec or "we might be accused of absence of our impartiality."

In filing a complaint, Castillo said that one should present evidences of violation of election laws. "Evidences sama sa photograph, video coverage, mga affidavits sa mga witnesses" he said. — Garry B. Lao with Jona B. Bering (CNU intern)/RAE