Solons find Cardema claim of P2 million payoff for Guanzon doubtful

The claim of former National Youth Commission Chairperson Ronald Cardema that a congresswoman secured a P2 million payoff from him in behalf of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon is hard to believe, a party-list lawmaker said Thursday.

Party-list representative Eric Yap of Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS)  was referring to the accusations made by Cardema who has alleged that Guanzon, thru an emissary who is a congresswoman, asked for P2 million from him in exchange of the approval of the accreditation of Duterte Youth party-list in January.

Cardema earlier said he has asked a friend to give the P2 million to Guanzon’s emissary, and that the emissary received it.

“Ang hirap isipin na isang congreswoman ay magmi-middle man. Napakahirap isipin na kukuha siya ng P2 milion hindi para sa kanya, at para sa allegedly Comelec Commissioner,” Yap said in a press conference.

“Parang merong nagsisinungaling,” he added.

Yap urged Cardema to name the supposed congresswoman who served as Guanzon’s bagwoman and file an ethics complaint, if needed.

“Sabihin niya kung sino, kasi kawawa naman po ang mga kongresista, unfair po iyon at kung totoo po iyon, unfair rin sa kanya [na hinihingian siya],” Yap said.

Guanzon has denied Cardema's allegations.

House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list echoed Yap’s position.

”Cardema should prove his allegation that Commissioner Guanzon has a congresswoman intermediary rather than just cast doubt on all women members of Congress," Zarate said in a statement.

Zarate said Cardema’s admission that he agreed to pay Guanzon’s emissary speaks volumes of the lack of integrity of the former National Youth Commission chair.

“Ronald Cardema has already admitted and implicated himself when he agreed to the supposed P2 million bribe for Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon and other corrupt arrangements for the accreditation of his party-list,” Zarate said.

"It is a clear admission against his own interest. He should be charged with graft," he added.

Cardema made the accusation against Guanzon after the Comelec First Division, where she is a member, disqualified Cardema as nominee of Duterte Youth party-list for being overaged.

Cardema, 34, has insisted that he should not be disqualified because he also represents young professionals who have no age limit set by law. —LDF, GMA News