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Friday, March 19, 2004
No electioneering in health cards distribution: poll officer
ASPIRING Cebu City councilor Augustus “Jun” Pe and other incumbent city officials seeking reelection did not violate election laws when they distributed health cards, the local poll office said.
City Election Officer for the north district Simaco Labata said that Pe, Rep. Raul del Mar and other city officials were simply implementing a project of the National Government.
Pe led the distribution of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) family cards to some 11,000 Cebu City residents last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Giving of free health cards is a joint project of President Arroyo, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philhealth.
Each card entitles the beneficiary to free medical care in government hospitals and pay less in private hospitals. The card is good for 45 hospital days and valid for one year for the main beneficiary.
“In my opinion and as far as Jun Pe is concerned, there is no violation committed because they gave out something that has to do with a government project. It’s not Pe’s personal money,” Labata told Sun.Star.
He explained that the Fair Election Act’s prohibition to donate in cash or in kind only refers to personal donations.
But if any individual files a formal complaint against Pe and other city officials before the Commission on Elections, Labata said they will look into the matter.
In Manila, heads of PCSO and Philhealth have already been accused of electioneering in distributing the cards.
Opposition senatorial candidates Boots Anson-Roa and Amina Rasul have also asked the Supreme Court to order Arroyo to take a leave of absence to avoid conflict of interest.
Since Arroyo replaced president Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in a popular revolt over corruption charges in January 2001, she becomes the only sitting president to seek a fresh six-year mandate. LCR
(March 19, 2004 issue)
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