|
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Poll body to probe Gonzalez over incentive offer
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is investigating the justice chief's offer of a P10,000 incentive to barangay officials in Iloilo who could ensure victory for administration Senate bets.
Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said he has given instructions to his office's law department to determine if Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. committed an offense when he made the offer.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Abalos said they might invite Gonzalez to let him explain the context of his statement.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, gifts and cash donations as well as promise of money could be considered vote buying.
Abalos said Gonzalez might have promised the incentives to campaign leaders but not to voters. "It could be a reward for campaign workers for a job well done. But still we would look into the case to determine the real context of his statement," he said.
He added that Cabinet officials could support a candidate provided they do not resort to buying votes to ensure their bet's victory.
Gonzalez earlier confirmed that he made such offer but clarified that he would pay for the incentives with money from his personal funds.
He also said he could not be charged with vote buying because he is not a candidate.
Alioden Dalaig, head of the Comelec law department, said in a separate interview that they have not received any order yet from the commission en banc to investigate Gonzalez.
When asked if "offering personal funds" could be considered an election offense, Dalaig said, "It would only be a violation if he is buying votes."
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., meanwhile, dared Abalos to charge Gonzalez and urged the justice secretary to step down from his post.
Pimentel said the monetary offer of Gonzales is a blatant act of vote buying and bribery and is in gross violation of the 1987 Constitution and of the Omnibus Election Code.
He criticized Abalos for skirting the issue.
Pimentel refuted Gonzalez's claim that he is not liable for vote buying, saying that while the justice secretary is not a candidate, his son, Iloilo Representative Raul Gonzales III, is seeking reelection.
Moreover, he said those who will receive the P10,000 incentives are barangay chairmen who are in a position to influence their constituents. (MSN/CPB/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (April 26, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
