Comelec to look into 'ayuda' distribution during campaign

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will look into the reported distribution of cash assistance that coincided with a campaign rally, according to Commissioner George Garcia on Friday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Garcia said he has heard of such incident but did not go into specifics, saying he does not want to jump to conclusions.

"Meron akong nalaman na parang may ganyang insidente pero ayaw po muna nating magbigay ng konklusyon," Garcia said.

"Subalit titignan po natin yan, yung nangyaring sinasabi na sa isang area ay parang naisabay yung pamimigay ng ayuda doon sa mismong kampanya."

(I've heard of such an incident but I don't want to jump to conclusions yet. But we'll look into that, the reported distribution of cash assistance during a campaign.)

Garcia said the poll body would determine if the timing of the distribution of the cash assistance was intentional or was just a coincidence.

"Kasama yan sa dapat na mabuo natin sa imbestigasyon [We need to figure that out in our investigation]," he said, adding cash assistance distribution should not be done during campaign rallies.

GMA News caught on video last week the distribution of white envelopes containing P500 outside the governor's residence in Nueva Ecija during a campaign rally of presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Marcos' political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, has condemned the incident.

Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio "Oyie" Umali said the cash that was distributed was actually the local government's financial aid to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. —KBK, GMA News