ABANTE Mindanao (Abamin) party-list Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez said he would counter any charges that a colleague had threatened to file against him in courts.
Serge C. Pascual, a Butuan City resident, said he was mulling estafa charges against Rodriguez because the latter used his P1 million contribution to Abamin without any accounting at all.
Pascual-an engineer by profession-is Abamin's third nominee, according to Commission on Election documents he showed to the media during a press conference in Cagayan de Oro early this week.
He said Rodriguez approached him last year to be Abamin's second nominee and asked for donations to the party. He said he agreed to deposit P1 million in Rodriguez's account
Pascual said he felt cheated upon discovering that he was relegated to being third nominee, allegedly in favor of Rodriguez's relatives.
"I was a victim of failed promises," he said.
Rodriguez-brother to Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd district)-said he would press counter charges once Pascual files his.
"I will file malicious prosecution against him," the lawmaker said.
Rodriguez confirmed Pascual's P1 million contribution but said these were properly accounted for. He said he can prove this in courts.
"I have no guilt feelings because the money was used in the entire campaign duration and I expect him to garner enough votes in Butuan, thinking that he was campaigning seriously," Rodriguez added.
The lawmaker said Pascual was Abamin's point man for the Caraga Region, where Abamin garnered 20,000 votes.
Had Abamin gathered enough votes, Rodriguez said the party would not deny the seat intended for Pascual.
Rodriguez also denied Pascual was promised the second seat, saying Abamin's official lineup was the one filed before Comelec.
According to Pascual, the second nominee-the one who purportedly replaced him-is Verginia T. Sering, sister of Rodriguez's wife. Raynor T. Fulgencio and Irenetta C.Montinola-fourth and fifth nominees, respectively-are also distant relatives of the lawmaker.
Rodriguez did not dispute this. (Annabelle L. Ricalde, Nicole J. Managbanag)