LUBAO, Pampanga – Liberal Party (LP) reelectionist Gov. Eddie Panlilio urged yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate reports that his rivals led by presidential ally Lakas-Kampi-CMD party gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda has been paying salaries ranging from P1,500 to P4,000 monthly to people designated to act as poll watchers on May 10.
“I urge the Commission on Elections in Pampanga and Central Luzon to check out reports that my fellow gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Lilia Pineda, and her campaigners at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD are doing a massive recruitment of poll-watchers beyond what is allowed by election laws,” Panlilio said in a statement yesterday.
Panlilio said a “first batch of poll-watchers have been designated as barangay coordinators” who have been required by the Pineda camp to recruit 10 poll-watchers each.
“Election laws allow two poll-watchers per party in every clustered precincts to work on alternate duty. When the precinct is small, the BEI can ask the poll-watchers to leave. Only a representative of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting will be allowed,” he noted.
Panlilio cited reports that the barangay coordinators are already being paid P4,000 monthly while the poll watchers they were asked to recruit were promised P1,500 per month. “They are being given identification cards so they can regularly collect their allowance,” he added.
“This could be a form of vote-buying,” he said.
“I pray that the Comelec check into this to be able to protect the sanctity of the election, as a peaceful democratic process, so that the true will of the Kapampangan people, especially the poor, will prevail,” Panlilio further said.
Punto tried to reach Mrs. Pineda and her campaign manager Rosve Henson for reaction to the allegations, but both did not respond to phone calls and text messages.
Pres. Arroyo is also the official congressional candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the second district of this province. She is known as a close friend of Mrs. Pineda.
More members of the families of the President and Mrs. Pineda are running for the May 10 elections.
The President’s rival in the second district, LP congressional candidate Adonis Simpao noted apart from Mrs. Pineda, her son outgoing Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda is reportedly the congressional nominee of the Ang Galing Pinoy party list, together with presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo and outgoing Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca.
Simpao also said that Mrs. Pineda’s youngest daughter Mylene Pineda is also running unopposed as administration candidate for mayor in Lubao where the President is registered voter. In Sta. Rita town, Dennis’ wife Yolanda is seeking reelection, also under the administration party. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office said she is being challenged only by one independent candidate Arthur Salalila, a former mayor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member.
Lubao and Sta. Rita are within the second district where the President is running for Congress.
“I urge the Commission on Elections in Pampanga and Central Luzon to check out reports that my fellow gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Lilia Pineda, and her campaigners at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD are doing a massive recruitment of poll-watchers beyond what is allowed by election laws,” Panlilio said in a statement yesterday.
Panlilio said a “first batch of poll-watchers have been designated as barangay coordinators” who have been required by the Pineda camp to recruit 10 poll-watchers each.
“Election laws allow two poll-watchers per party in every clustered precincts to work on alternate duty. When the precinct is small, the BEI can ask the poll-watchers to leave. Only a representative of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting will be allowed,” he noted.
Panlilio cited reports that the barangay coordinators are already being paid P4,000 monthly while the poll watchers they were asked to recruit were promised P1,500 per month. “They are being given identification cards so they can regularly collect their allowance,” he added.
“This could be a form of vote-buying,” he said.
“I pray that the Comelec check into this to be able to protect the sanctity of the election, as a peaceful democratic process, so that the true will of the Kapampangan people, especially the poor, will prevail,” Panlilio further said.
Punto tried to reach Mrs. Pineda and her campaign manager Rosve Henson for reaction to the allegations, but both did not respond to phone calls and text messages.
Pres. Arroyo is also the official congressional candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the second district of this province. She is known as a close friend of Mrs. Pineda.
More members of the families of the President and Mrs. Pineda are running for the May 10 elections.
The President’s rival in the second district, LP congressional candidate Adonis Simpao noted apart from Mrs. Pineda, her son outgoing Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda is reportedly the congressional nominee of the Ang Galing Pinoy party list, together with presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo and outgoing Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca.
Simpao also said that Mrs. Pineda’s youngest daughter Mylene Pineda is also running unopposed as administration candidate for mayor in Lubao where the President is registered voter. In Sta. Rita town, Dennis’ wife Yolanda is seeking reelection, also under the administration party. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office said she is being challenged only by one independent candidate Arthur Salalila, a former mayor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member.
Lubao and Sta. Rita are within the second district where the President is running for Congress.
