Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Cuenco to Comelec: Stop vote-buying
REELECTIONIST Rep. Antonio Cuenco asked Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. to do something to stop the alleged vote-buying in Cebu City’s south district.
For its part, the Genuine Opposition in Cebu City reiterated its challenge for a debate with incumbent officials on the city’s debt and unsolved killings, among other issues.
In a letter, Cuenco specifically asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to deputize policemen, barangay tanods and all law enforcement agencies to ensure the strict enforcement of election laws that prohibit vote-buying and the corruption of voters.
He wrote Abalos a letter reporting “a clear case of vote-buying” but the legislator did not cite a specific incident and candidates involved.
Cuenco also did not attach any proof or evidence to the letter.
“But the people already know who I’m referring to. Local Comelec officials are aware of what’s going on in the south district, it’s up to them to check on the allegations, investigate the matter thoroughly and find out who are involved,” he told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Debate challenge
Comelec, he said, should do something about the alleged massive vote-buying, lest the people think it is acceptable.
“I’m not going to dream of completely preventing it but at least they do something to stop it and show they are not tolerating it. Just because some candidates are doing it, we should not feel resigned to the idea of vote-buying,” Cuenco further said.
In the letter dated April 13, he asked Abalos to stop the “abominable” practice of buying the people’s votes by sending the violators to jail.
In a press conference at the Lahug Barangay Hall yesterday, Cebu City mayoral candidate Mary Ann delos Santos and other opposition candidates made official their challenge to Mayor Tomas Osmeña to engage in a debate.
Osmeña’s refusal to accept their challenge only shows he is not transparent about City Hall transactions and that he is hiding something from the people, they said.
Sun.Star Cebu tried to call Osmeña yesterday but the calls were not answered.
Among other things, delos Santos wants a debate on the South Road Properties (SRP) debts, vigilante-style killings, tax increase, non-delivery of basic services and transparency issues.
Good venue for voters
“If you want more, we can also talk about arrogance and vindictiveness….I’m challenging him to a debate but he won’t accede because he said it will only make us popular. A debate is a good venue to give Cebuanos a chance to choose the best candidate who can solve these problems,” she said.
In a phone interview yesterday, Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the ruling party Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BO-PK) maintains its position that it will not participate in any debate with their political opponents.
What is acceptable to them, he said, is for all BO-PK candidates to be in a forum and discuss relevant issues as a group.
“That we are afraid and are hiding something is their own pronouncement and I respect their position on our position. They can make their own conclusion but on our side, we don’t see it as a sign of weakness,” he said.
Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates said that under Osmeña’s administration, the City Government is on the verge of bankruptcy, with a P650-million annual budget for debt service.
Basic services, on the other hand, get only P147 million in the annual budget, they added.
“That in itself is a blatant failure in the delivery of basic services. Wala na gyuy projects in the barangays like health centers, footpaths, canals and they don’t want to talk about these things because they are afraid the people will know the real score on the City’s coffers,” delos Santos added. (LCR)
