MEMBERS of the Alayon Party were allegedly caught distributing bags of rice to residents during a “pulong-pulong” in one of Talisay City’s mountain barangays over the weekend.
A concerned citizen yesterday showed reporters a video of city officials and candidates of the city’s ruling administration handing out two kilos of rice in Barangay Jaclupan last Sunday.
But Talisay City Administrator Richel Bacaltos, who is the party’s campaign manager, denied the allegation. He said the rice distribution was part of the barangay assembly.
Making it formal
Cebu Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde urged the concerned citizen, who asked not to be named, to submit an affidavit and other evidences to the Commission on Elections office so they can determine if the allegations are worth investigating.
The concerned citizen said he and a companion were passing by the barangay’s covered court when they saw people carrying bags of rice outside.
He said they stopped and he took a video of the activity using his cellular phone.
The video captured city officials and Alayon candidates wearing a green shirt and distributing bags of rice to the people there.
The concerned citizen also recorded his interview with one of the beneficiaries who said Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao personally handed the bag of rice to her.
Liabilities
While admitting that the incident did happen, Bacaltos denied that the rice bags were from the Alayon Party.
Bacaltos said the rice belonged to Jaclupan Barangay Captain Joel Orbiso, who invited them to a barangay assembly.
Orbiso, in another separate interview, denied conducting a barangay assembly last Sunday. However, he clarified that he distributed the rice, which he bought with his own money, since it was his son’s birthday.
He also admitted inviting members of the Alayon Party last Sunday. He said he is a party supporter.
Gujilde said Alayon can still be held liable for various election violations if proven that its members distributed rice bags last Sunday.
He told Sun.Star Cebu that the rice distribution can be interpreted as a form of vote-buying.
He said Orbiso can also be liable for his participation in the activity.