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Thursday, March 30, 2006
Video shows local gov't office behind signature drive: lawyer
By Jay Dooma Balnig
LAWYER Daniel Cartagena, convenor of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Resign Movement-Panay claimed that he has in his possession a video footage that will proved that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officials and employees were the ones who facilitated the signature campaign for Charter change through the People's Initiative.
Cartagena added that based on their initial investigation, several witnesses revealed that the Cha-Cha questionnaires from Metro Manila were delivered to a certain Naldoza in Miag-ao last March 20 through the LBC courier.
He added that he was able to receive the said information through DILG employees themselves for many of its employees are opposing the department's involvement in the said signature campaign.
During the check with DILG Iloilo, it was discovered that a certain Janet Naldoza is connected with DILG Iloilo Province.
Naldoza is not around when she was reached for her comments.
Cartagena added that the said questionnaires were distributed to various barangays in the city and province last Thursday and Friday or last March 23 and 24 respectively.
The video clip shows that the said questionnaires used during the signature campaign during the synchronized barangays assemblies last March 25 are kept at the DILG Provincial Office.
He added that they will use the said evidence in their filing of criminal and administrative cases against the DILG officials linked to the said activities.
Last Friday, DILG Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta clarified that the DILG has nothing to do with the said signature campaign. She said they only encouraged the village heads to conduct a barangay assembly in their area.
The turnout of the conduct was very low according to Liga nga mga Barangay Provincial Chair, Angel Briones for two reasons - the public was not informed and that it has lost the drive to attend because of allegations that Charter change may be pushed here.
Cartagena added that they received information that with the failure of such, several individuals roamed various barangays and distributed questionnaires in exchange for money.
Board Member Domingo Oso is yet to schedule the conduct of a provincial board investigation on the matter.
Millions
Meanwhile, lawyer Raul Lambino, spokesman of the progressive alliance Sigaw ng Bayan, revealed that the signature campaign has garnered 4.5 million signatures so far.
He also denounced claims made by Liga ng mga Barangay head James Marty Lim that there was money involved in supposedly persuading voters to sign a petition for a People's Initiative.
This rehashed issue, Lambino noted, remains unsubstantiated even as he dared anyone to present concrete proof and not mere fabricated testimonies of their allegations./JDB
(March 30, 2006 issue)
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