2 LP bets file disqualification vs Villar over ‘vote-buying’

(Updated 7:50 p.m.) 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. Trying hard 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." What is vote-buying? Under Article 12, Section 261 of the code, vote-buying constitutes the act of giving, offering, or promising money or anything of value, including promises of “employment, franchise or grant, public or private." Vote-buying also involves making or offering to incur expenses that will, directly or indirectly, benefit a person, association, corporation, entity, or community “to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party." "(Villar) is now trying to buy himself the Presidency of our beloved country... in distributing and handing out P20 and scholarship grants while in the act of soliciting the support and sacred votes of his audience, has undeniably engaged in the despicable act of vote-buying," the petition read. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters that the allegations made by the LP bets may initiate both disqualification and criminal proceedings. "Bottom line is [that] vote-buying is a felony," he said. He noted, however, that the Comelec Law Department would still have to investigate if there has been in fact a violation of the election rules. Vote-buying constitutes an election offense, which is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office. Comelec Law Department head Ferdinand Rafanan had earlier admitted that Villar's act of giving out P20 bills "might be considered" vote-buying under the Omnibus Election Code. "Misrepresentations" Aside from vote-buying, the LP senatorial bets said Villar should be disqualified for making "misrepresentations" about the “true" circumstances surrounding the death of his brother, which they said was a violation of the Fair Elections Act or Republic Act 9006. Villar is generally perceived as the closest rival of LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in the forthcoming May 10 presidential race, based on their comparative ratings in recent poll surveys on the electorate's presidential preferences. - with Amita Legaspi/KBK/JV, GMANews.TV