Madrigal explains online iPad contest

MANILA (Updated) -- Team PNoy senatorial bet Jamby Madrigal on Thursday told the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that she knew nothing about the online contest offering a free iPad, which has put her candidacy in trouble.

Madrigal went to the Comelec to personally submit her letter of explanation to the Law Department on her controversial iPad contest over Twitter and Facebook.

Comelec earlier asked Madrigal to explain the contest as it warned the senatorial candidate of possible disqualification for illegal campaigning online.

In her letter, Madrigal said that the contest was undertaken, without her direct and personal knowledge, by her campaign volunteers.

However, the former senator said she will not simply use her them as scapegoats just to avoid possible charges.

"They volunteered to help my campaign, no harm was intended, malaki po ang utang na loob ko sa kanila kaya hindi ko hahayaan na madawit sila dito, kawawa naman po sila (I owe them a lot so I will allow them to be dragged into this issue, I feel sorry for them)," she said.

Section 97 of the Omnibus Election Code states that "it shall be unlawful for any person to hold dances, lotteries, cockfights, games, boxing bouts, bingo, beauty contests, entertainments, or cinematographic, theatrical or other performances for the purpose of raising funds for an election campaign or for the support of any candidate from the commencement of the election period up to and including election day."

Madrigal also repeated her apology to the commission over the said controversy and assured the poll body that such an incident will not happen again.

She described the incident as a "good indication of political maturity" as many netizens reacted to the online promo.

"This incident has made me realize that a lot of people are enraged by corruption, makikita n'yo po na sawa na ang tao at ayaw na sa corruption especially ang youth (you will see that people had enough of corruption especially the youth)," she said.

Comelec Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Jr. welcomed the explanation from Madrigal and will now use it in coming up with a conclusion on the case on whether they will file an election offense case against her or not.

"I thank all the candidates, who were gracious enough to admit their mistake and complied with our orders," said Brillantes. (Kathrina Alvarez/HDT/Sunnex)