Drilon, Iloilo mayors accused of vote-buying

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — With a few days to go before the May 13 midterm polls, Rep. Augusto Syjuco, Jr. (2nd dist., Iloilo) filed at the Comelec a complaint of vote-buying against Senator Franklin Drilon, and eight other Liberal Party stalwarts in the province.

The other respondents in the case for alleged violation of Article 22, Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code were former Mayor Romulo Cabana, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Alonsabe, and LP-aligned Mayors Dennis Superficial of Sta. Barbara town, Enrique “Ike” Rojas of Leganes, Gregorio Brazas of Zarraga and Rolito Cajilig of Leon.

Syjuco, who is now seeking for reelection under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), is in a three-way battle against Gorriceta and party-list Rep. Salvador Cabaluna III.

In his complaint, Syjuco said that: “sometime in April 2013, Gorriceta approached the respondents and most of the barangay captains and mayors to meet with him and Senator Franklin Drilon and promised them projects ranging from farm to market road, flood control projects, barangay halls, jetmatic pumps, livelihood projects, and cash to be implemented for their political support, specifically to campaign for and deliver votes to Gorriceta's congressional bid in their respective municipalities and barangays.”

He alleged that these were promised by Drilon and Gorriceta themselves, who said the funds will come from the pork barrel of the senator. “It is also apparent that they include the funds from the Priority Development Allocation Fund allocated for the complainant's congressional district,” the complaint added.

In a radio interview, Gorriceta was of utter disbelief in Syjuco's accusations. “What? Syjuco has accused me of vote buying? The world seemed to have turned upside-down with what Syjuco did,” he said.

Gorriceta said Syjuco should look first at what he has done in the 2nd district in the past 15 years. “As far as I know, Syjuco was the one who banked on money to win,” he added.

Earlier, Syjuco's camp accused the LP in the province for taking advantage of the P5.7-million educational fund from Malacañang last March.

Reelectionist Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. however brushed aside Syjuco's accusations, explaining that the cash incentives were education assistance for graduates from the Office of the President. These were distributed even before the campaign period started, he said. (FREEMAN)