Aid during calamity should be exception to vote-buying —Gutoc

For Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bet Samira Gutoc, the distribution of aid during calamity should not be considered vote-buying.

In an ambush interview in Samar on Tuesday, Gutoc balked at people  questioning the cash assistance pledged by presidential candidate Francisco “Isko” Moreno to fire victims in Cavite.

"Bakit nyo ikwe-kwestiyon ang donasyon sa Cavite? Bakit nyo ikwe-kwestiyon ang donasyon sa sakuna? Eh kailangan na kailangan eh. Marawi nga hindi kayo makarating, nakakarating siya sa Cavite, darating siya sa Marawi, si Isko,” Gutoc was quoted as saying in a statement.

(Why are you questioning the donation to Cavite? Why are you questioning calamity aid? They need this. You couldn’t even go to Marawi, Isko went to Cavite, he went to Marawi.)

“So, calamity is an exception to the so-called vote-buying. Kailangan na kailangan (it is desperately needed),” she added.

Moreno had previously vowed to provide cash assistance worth P8 million to 790 families affected by a fire that hit four barangays in Cavite over the weekend.

He said each household whose residence was destroyed by the fire will receive P10,000 in cash from his personal fund and donations.

Meanwhile, fellow Aksyon senatorial bet Karl Balita stressed that the people who had regained hope did not think about politics.

“Dahil hindi na siguro mahalaga kung sino ang naghatid dun. Ang mahalaga may taong dumating na on the spot, kinabukasan pwede silang bumili ng pang build nila ng bahay nila kahit papaano, I was there,” he said.

Senatorial bet Jopet Sison, meanwhile, said Moreno’s giving of aid in Cavite is only a glimpse of what he can do if elected president.

For his part, Moreno said it is not wrong to help.

“Mahirap masunugan and under exception, may mga exemptions sa batas sa tulad ng oras ng kalamidad, aberya, wala naman masamang tumulong,” Moreno said.—LDF, GMA News