Greco Belgica asks Comelec to look into alleged vote-buying of Roxas, Poe camps

A senatorial candidate is asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to look into alleged vote-buying instances by the camps of presidential candidates Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe.

On Tuesday, Greco Belgica filed a complaint on the matter with the Comelec law department at the poll body's headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

The two-page petition only sought an investigation on Roxas and the ruling Liberal Party.

However, in an interview, he said he is also seeking the same probe for Poe.

"Ito ay para himukin ang imbestigasyon sa vote-buying na nakita na ginagawa sa kampo ni Secretary Mar Roxas at saka ni Senator Grace Poe. Hopefully, imbestigahan ng Comelec for potential disqualification," said Belgica, who is seeking a Senate seat for the second time.

Reactions of Roxas, Poe camps

In a text message, ruling coalition spokesperson Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez said the complaint was "outrageous and obviously a publicly stunt."

"While it is his right to file a case, it is utterly without basis and we are confident it will not prosper," Gutierrez said.

Poe, for her part, expressed incredulity at the allegation because she has been vehemently against any form of cheating in the elections.

“Ngayon pa, sisirain ko ‘yung pangalan ko sa mga ganyang uri ng aktibidad, e ako nga ‘yung kontra-daya since 2004,” she said at the sidelines of her sortie in Cavite.

The camp of Poe's father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., claimed he was cheated of victory in the 2004 presidential race by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Poe denied paying off supporters in any of her campaign activities, saying she does not have money to do so.

Her spokesperson, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said their camp has already clarified that the person in the alleged vote-buying video supposedly involving Poe is not a part of her campaign.

“We assailed that video that went viral, we clarified that the person being referred to by the individuals in the video is not connected [to] our campaign... We're confident that this complaint will be dismissed accordingly,” he said in a text message.

Viral videos

Belgica said the basis of his complaint are viral videos, such as one indicating the distribution of cash envelopes at an LP rally in Pikit, North Cotabato.

The ruling party has said that the video is under investigation. Roxas also condemned the act, if true, maintaining that they have prohibited their members from doing such during the campaign.

Belgica, who supports Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential race, said it would not be possible for Roxas and the LP to do the investigation themselves.

"How can you investigate when you're supposed to investigate yourself? You bring it to the proper forum," he said.

For Poe, Belgica said, "There were people saying na hindi ibinigay ang mga allowances nila na tig-fa-500 pesos."

The senatorial aspirant admitted that he was not able to speak personally to the people seen or involved in the videos.

However, he added: "Pero the (pieces of) evidence are enough."

Last week, urban poor group Kadamay asked the Comelec, through Chairman Andres Bautista, to investigate how beneficiaries of the government's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) were forced to attend LP rallies.

The group Kontra Daya has also filed a separate complaint against the party using the phrase "Daang Matuwid" in the names of Roxas and his running-mate Leni Robredo.

The poll body also said its law department is looking into the use of a presidential chopper in an LP campaign, after photos of actress-host and presidential sister Kris Aquino alighting the chopper circulated online.

Full report from GMA News Online 

credits to Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez and Xianne Arcangel/RSJ, GMA News -