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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Poll body mum on vote-buying charge v. justice chief (11:20 a.m.)
MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. chose to keep silent on allegations that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales Sr. offered cash incentives to barangay chairmen in Iloilo to campaign and ensure the victory of the administration's senatorial bets.
“I don’t want to comment because it might thrive into a case,” Abalos said.
Gonzales reportedly offered the barangay chiefs P10,000 each and also promised to fund the grand rally of Team Unity in Iloilo.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying is an election offense and is penalized by imprisonment of not less than one year to six years.
But Gonzales said he is not violating any law since he is spending his personal money and he is not a candidate in the elections so he cannot be accused of vote-buying. (MSN)
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