INDEPENDENT re-electionist congressman Anthony Golez, Jr. asked Tuesday his challengers - Mayor Evelio Leonardia, lawyer Lyndon Cana, and Eleserio Palma - to respect the people's choice in the coming election and more so the rule of law.
He said that whatever is the decision of the people of Bacolod in the coming polls, he will respect it.
"I will respect their choice if they want me to stay as their congressman. I will also respect if they want another one. And I hope that all candidates will also respect our laws. If our laws do not allow intimidation, cheat, and other form of violation, we should follow that,” he stressed.
Golez was with the senior citizens of Bacolod on Tuesday.
"My campaign is very emotional because the people love me as their leader. The people and I have an attachment because during the time that they need my help, I am there to help them and one can see that there is really an attachment. I can see their gratitude on me and because of that, I can see a big chance to reform our city especially in the election of candidates," he said.
Golez also mentioned his letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippines National Police (PNP), and the Commission on Election (Comelec) where he echoed the unsigned letter that he received about possible cheating that will happen in the city prior to and on the day of the election.
"I was alarmed and I thought of ways and means on how to make that unofficial letter official because that is the only chance for our government to act on that serious concern. I wrote the DOJ, Comelec, PNP, and NBI and attached that letter and asked them to look into this report and the DOJ has acted on it immediately. DOJ Secretary Leilah Delima will act on it by ordering a formal investigation on this matter because this is a threat to our sovereignty," he said.
When asked on the transfer of the canvassing from Bays Center to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Golez said that the venue can hardly accommodate the number of lawyers of all the candidates from Senators down to the councilors.
"I don't see the logic in changing the canvassing center. We hope that all agencies will still work to rectify what needs to be rectified," he said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier vehemently denied the plans to cheat in the May 13, 2013 election.
He even dared Golez to produce Nicolas Enriquez because they want to know if he really exists or not.
“Ginahangkat ko si Golez nga ipakita nya ini/iproduser si Nicoles Enriques, para kabalo kami kung tawo ni o tamawo.”
Leonardia said this is something that has never happened in Bacolod politics before.
It is a masterpiece by a master spin doctor, he added.
Leonardia noticed that the letter of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima directing NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas to investigate the allegations of Golez was dated April 10.
However, Rojas’ letter directing the NBI Counter Terrorism Division director to investigate the alleged illegal activities, was dated April 8, which shows that it was issued even before De Lima had directed the NBI chief to conduct an investigation.
“To imply that I will use goons to insure my election victory is surely an act of desperation. I have been in Bacolod politics for 19 years and the people of Bacolod know me well. My name has never been identified with terrorism or illegal gambling that is why I have been winning elections because people here know me and trust me,” Leonardia said.
Leonardia said these wild and totally baseless allegations can only come from someone who does not know the culture of Bacolod.
If he (Golez) were bred and cultured in Bacolod he could not have cooked up something like this. It clearly shows that his mentality and orientation are of another kind and out of the world of Bacolod, he said.
Leonardia said this is a pattern of the “ambush me” scheme and cheap political gimmickry. Indeed, thinkers are doers! Only people who can do this can think of something like this, he said.
What is possible is that the accuser is the mastermind who will blame his opponents for what he intends to do, he added.
“I have survived more difficult political battles in the past without resorting to dirty tactics. What I’m facing now is definitely not my most difficult election battle,” Leonardia said.
And let the public be warned that as elections come nearer, more of this evil propaganda machinations will surface, he added.