MAGALANG -- Re-electionist mayor Romulo Pecson has declined to issue any comment or statement regarding the graft and corruption charges filed by his political opponents.
Councilor Maria Lourdes Lacson, a mayoralty candidate here, and her brother-in-law, re-electionist vice mayor Norman Lacson filed the complaint against Pecson and two other officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for Central Luzon on November 16, 2015.
The complainants are seeking a formal investigation against Pecson and two other officials who allegedly violated several provisions of Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“I opt not to issue any comment regarding the case,” Pecson said in the vernacular.
Pecson earlier reminded his fellow candidates not to resort to mudslinging during the campaign period for local elections, which will officially start on March 26 until May 7.
The mayor addressed his call to all candidates, including his partymates, candidates in different positions in other tickets, and rivals in the mayoralty race.
Pecson said it is better to present the platform of government instead of character assassination and other forms of low-level politicking.
‘Ing pakisabi ta mu sana karela nung pwedi ala ng manataki. Reng plataporma da ila naming ipresenta da kareng tau,” Pecson said.
The mayor disclosed that Magalang town has no history of election-related violence over the past few elections. “I hope we could maintain this record as a peaceful town,” Pecson said in Kapampangan.
Three Pampanga towns including Arayat, Mexico, and Masantol, are under the poll watch, Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Recomono, Pampanga police director, said earlier.