PDP-Laban execs accuse Joy Belmonte, Gian Sotto of vote-buying in QC

Officials of ruling party PDP-Laban in Quezon City have filed a vote buying complaint against Mayor-elect Joy Belmonte, Vice Mayor-elect Gian Sotto and congressional candidate Elizabeth Delarmente.

In a three-page complaint, PDP-Laban Secretary General for Quezon City Edwin Rodriguez and PDP-Laban campaign manager for Quezon City Michael Defensor accused Belmonte and her allies of vote buying, citing her team's May 11 campaign rally when she and her allies shared the stage with TV host Willie Revillame.

The PDP-Laban officials claimed Revillame while onstage gave cash to the people present and thereafter endorsed Belmonte, Sotto and the rest of their slate.

The complainants claimed the distribution of cash was a violation of the Omnibus Election Code that penalizes “any person who gives,offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises ony office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or course an expenditure to be mode to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election.”

“The cash were given to induce the voters to vote Ma.Josefina G. Belmonte, Gian Carlo Jose G. Sotto and Elizabeth A. Delarmente for Mayor, Vice Mayor and Congresswoman, respectively,” the complaint read.

The complainants also cited that the video of the said incident was aired via Facebook live under the Facebook account of Belmonte.

Politicking?

In a statement, Belmonte's spokesperon Pia Morato belied the PDP-Laban officials's claims by arguing that Revillame's actions were separate from the campaign rally.

Morato added that the distribution of cash was Revillame's alone, not of Belmonte and her allies.

"The campaign rally had concluded already and was followed by an entertainment spot for Mr. Revillame. Mr. Willie Revillame had acted out of his own intent and as part of a performance,” Morato said.

“Secondly, (Revillame) explicitly stated during the performance that he gave materials and cash out of his own funds. He was doing this as part of a routine - one that is so familiar to Filipino audiences nationwide. Indeed, what would a Willie Revillame show be without it?" she added.

GMA News Online is still getting comment from Revillame's camp.

Morato said that Belmonte would be ready to face an investigation in connection with the incident.

“We very much welcome any investigation into the matter so that Comelec can decide for itself based on the facts of the case," Morato said.

"For Mayor-elect Joy Belmonte, transparency is a top priority not only in the city's affairs but also in any aspect of her governance," she added.

Morato questioned the motive of PDP-Laban officials, considering that the complaint was only filed on Thursday, May 30, when they already made such accusation dating back to May 12 or a day before the election.

"Why are they filing only now? We believe it's because their camp is scrambling for a diversion. Ultimately, the elections are over, and the winner has been proclaimed," Morato said.

"We call on the camp of Mr. Rodriguez and Congressman-elect Defensor to stop the politicking and to accept the decision of the people,” she added.

Belmonte and Sotto beat their PDP-Laban rivals, Quezon City Representative Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo and Jopet Sison, respectively, during the May 2019 polls.

Belmonte beat Crisologo by over 103,000 votes, while Sotto won over Sison by 38,000 votes.

Delarmente, however, lost the congressional race to Crisologo's son, Onyx, by 17,000 votes.  —NB, GMA News