PDP-Laban assures no vote-buying in Speakership race

MANILA, Philippines — Ruling party Partido Demokratiko Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) assured on Wednesday that its members are not engaged in vote-buying for the House Speakership race.

“Yan po ang malinaw na malinaw na walang vote-buying, walang votebuying,” PDP-Laban executive vice president Pampanga 3rd District Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales told reporters in a press conference in Quezon City when asked about vote-buying.

“Ang mga miyembro po ng House of Representatives na kung sino ‘yung makakatulong sa kanilang kanyang mga distrito yun lang po ang iboboto nila,” he added.

“Sa PDP-Laban, walang involved na ganyan palagay ko kasi nagmeeting na kami, walang usapan na ganyan. ‘Yung mga leaders ng party wala pong ganung na pinag-uusapan,” Gonzales further said.

It was former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who had alleged that top contenders for the speakership must shell out P500,000 to P1 million per vote for each of the 300 incoming House members.

However, he denied giving away money to fellow lawmakers for his speakership bid.

READ: ‘Spend P150M to P300M, to be next Speaker’

Another House Speaker aspirant, Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, echoed Alvarez’s claim, adding that at least P200-million worth of projects were given to some party-list lawmakers to get their support.

He had also denied offering money nor promising projects to congressmen in exchange for their votes.

PDP-Laban’s House Speaker bet Marinduque Rep. Allan Lord Velasco also earlier denied giving away money to congressmen to get their votes.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

READ: Velasco denies giving away millions for speakership votes