2 LP bets file disqualification vs Villar over ‘vote-buying’
Two Liberal Party (LP) senatorial candidates have filed a disqualification case against Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar Jr. for alleged vote-buying.
LP senatorial bets Nereus Acosta and Martin Bautista on Thursday afternoon trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila, to personally file the 11-page petition.
The two want Villar disqualified for distributing 20-peso bills to people during his political campaign sortie in Lipa City on February 26.
The two likewise cited Villar’s awarding of scholarship grants to people during an entertainment program sponsored by his political party at the Mall of Asia on February 25.
They said that the two incidents violate Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
Villar, in response, said the filing of the case was a sign of “desperation" by the LP.
“Nakakatawa… they are trying too hard [to get me out of the presidential race]," he said in an interview aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras."
He also clarified that the distribution of scholarship certificates during NP’s concert was just ceremonial as these have already been granted to the beneficiaries beforehand.
“Isinama lang yung mga bata para magpasalamat (The children were there to express their gratitude)," he said.
He had earlier said that his giving out money cannot be considered as vote-buying since the children are not registered voters.
An NP senatorial bet, meanwhile, described as frivolous the disqualification complaint against Villar.
“Most likely, I’m very confident that the Comelec (Commission on Elections) will throw out this frivolous complaint," Adel Tamano said in an interview over ANC.
He also said that Acosta and Bautista are “just wasting the Comelec’s time."
Kim Chiu
Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ