Davide hits Garcias for giving aid with bets

CEBU, Philippines -  Gubernatorial candidate Hilario Davide III of the Liberal Party criticized Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s distribution of financial assistance to barangays in the presence of One Cebu candidates.

Davide said that it is clearly a form of deception to local and barangay officials receiving financial assistance from the governor to gain sympathy and support for their candidates in the 2013 election.

 “Pangilad ni,” Davide told reporters yesterday.

Davide said he was told that in one town,  the checks that the barangay captains received were taken back after the picture-taking and they were told to liquidate the previous projects first.

He also criticized the mass oath-taking of barangay officials, health workers and tanods to be members of One Cebu.

“Para nako, it’s a form of deception,” Davide said.

But Rep. Pablo John Garcia, One Cebu’s gubernatorial bet said no public funds were used in One Cebu’s mass oath-takings since the party shouldered the expenses.

“What is deception is when Davide attends the distribution and hands out the Pantawid Pamilya funds to beneficiaries, like he did in Mandaue,” Pablo John said.

He said that Davide has no part in the Pantawid Pa-milyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) fund which is allocated by Congress.

“So who’s deceiving the people?” Pablo John said.

Davide said he finds it immoral and scandalous for the Garcias to use people’s money in a form of financial assistance to barangays in the presence of One Cebu candidates.

During the activities in different component cities and towns, Gov.  Garcia was accompanied by Pablo John Garcia and runningmate, Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV.  Then, they will be joined by other candidates in a district, city or town that they are visiting.

Davide said he and runningmate, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, visit places only for handshaking and meeting people.

Last Thursday, Gov. Garcia and One Cebu candidates visited Argao, Davide’s hometown, and turned over almost P3 million worth of checks for the different infrastructure projects of the 25 barangays of Argao. (FREEMAN)