MANILA, Philippines — Questions surround an alleged P7.3-million deposit to the bank account of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), just days before the election of the organization’s new set of national officers.
The PCL, comprised of 17,163 councilors across the nation will be electing a new set of officers on Feb. 27. Also at stake is the position of national chairman.
In a statement submitted to the STAR, national chairman candidate from One Team One PCL councilor Danilo Dayanghirang of Davao City alleged that the rival camp of
Albay municipal councilor Jesciel Richard Salceda has engaged in massive vote buying by depositing, through a law firm, a manager’s check in the amount of P7.3 million to the PCL bank account.
The amount is allegedly to cover the registration of 583 councilors for the event.
Dayanghirang further alleges the check is proof of blatant vote buying, giving undue influence to the outcome of the independent exercise directly under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The councilors are traveling under official business and the registration is chargeable to local government funds.
Dayanghirang expressed his concern, citing the free will of registered councilors may be compromised.
In response to the allegations, Salceda’s uncle and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said, “We received payments from the PCL members in Albay and facilitated their remittance (to the PCL). We have the receipts to prove it.”
He added, “No payments facilitated at all for anyone outside Albay… Other regions were doing the same, like a P2.8 million payment for Bukidnon. It is common practice.”
Rep. Salceda stressed, “If we paid for anyone outside Bicol, then come and take me because there is none.”
Dayanghirang has furnished the DILG and Office of the Ombudsman a copy of the allegations on his complaint, seeking to disqualify the younger Salceda.