FILE PHOTO Senate hopeful Samira Gutoc and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and some members of his senatorial slate have defended the move of their group to provide a P8 million cash aid for fire victims in Cavite, saying that it is merely meant to help people.
Moreno in an ambush interview, transcripts of which were released in a statement on Wednesday, shot down criticisms that his assistance was actually vote-buying, as the official campaign period for national candidates in the 2022 elections has already started.
The controversy started when Moreno pledged P8 million as a cash grant for 790 families in Cavite City who were affected by the fire last February 12 — which some netizens called out for allegedly vote-buying or offering gifts to people in exchange for votes.
“Well, I wish them well. I hope nasa mabuti silang kalalagayan kasi as far as I’m concerned nasa masamang sitwasyon yung mga kababayan natin sa Cavite City. Mahirap masunugan and under exception, may mga exemptions sa batas sa tulad ng oras ng kalamidad, aberya, wala naman masamang tumulong,” he said.
(Well, I wish them well. I hope they are in a good place because as far as I’m concerned, Filipinos here in Cavite City are in a dire situation. It’s hard to be affected by fires, and under an exception, there are exemptions in the law like during times of calamity, candidates can help.)
“Eto’y tulong at saka hindi naman ang tao mananalong presidente sa 790 na pamilya eh. Tulong yun, yun ang kusang tulong ng pribadong sector at nung personal kung bagay. Yun ang pagiging kapwa tao. Ipinararamdam mo sa kababayan mon a meron silang kapwang Pilipino na may malasakit din sa kapwa. But then again, they are entitled to do what they have to do,” he added.
(This is just helping and candidates cannot win as president only on 790 families. That’s just aid, that’s the initiative of the private sector and my personal funds. That’s how I show my humanity, I let people feel that they have fellow Filipinos who care for them. But then again, they are entitled to do what they have to do.)
Gutoc likewise challenged Moreno’s critics, asking why the decision to help people in need is being questioned.
She stressed that calamities are an exemption to vote-buying.
“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,” she told reporters in Northern Samar.
(Why are you questioning the donations to Cavite? Why are you questioning the donations to calamity victims? But they really need it. In Marawi you were not able to reach people, but Isko was able to visit and help Cavite, and eventually he will visit Marawi.)
“So, calamity is an exception to a so-called vote-buying. Kailangan na kailangan,” she added.
(So, the calamity is an exception to a so-called vote-buying. It is badly needed.)
No politics involved
Another senatorial aspirant inside Moreno’s team, Carl Balita, said that the mayor was only thinking about the welfare of the people — especially the families displaced by the fire.
“Kung makikita nyo lang ang mata nung mga taong nabuhayan ng dugo nung gabing yun hindi ninyo iisipin ang pulitika. 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,” Balita said.
(If you could only see the eyes of the people that night, who sprung to life because of the assistance, you would not think about politics. Maybe it is not important who brought the assistance there. What’s vital is that someone went there, on the spot, and the people have the capability to buy things to somehow rebuild their homes. I was there.)
Liable for another election violation
While many have accused Moreno of vote-buying, veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said that the presidential candidate may have not committed such acts. In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, Macalintal said however that Moreno may be held liable under Section 104 of the Omnibus Election Code, which tackles donations that are prohibited.
“No vote buying, but might fall under Sec. 104 of Omnibus Election Code on prohibited donation during the campaign period,” Macalintal said.
“Under this law, no candidate or relatives within the second degree or his campaign manager or agent shall make ANY donation, contribution or gift during the campaign period. The law is clear in that what is prohibited is ‘ANY donation’,” he added.
Moreno was reported to have visited the Ladislao Diwa Elementary School on Sunday night, where he promised to give P10,000 for each family whose house was razed in a fire that affected four barangays.
The money, he claimed, will come from his personal fund and donations from friends and supporters.
READ: Isko Moreno pledges P8 million cash aid to fire victims in Cavite City
This is not the first time that a presidential candidate for the 2022 national elections was accused of vote-buying: late 2021, several critics of Senator Manny Pacquiao claimed that the legendary boxer’s move to distribute cash during his tour of the country should be considered an attempt to bribe people into voting for him.
But the Commission on Elections clarified that while the cash handouts may be wrong, it cannot be considered an electoral offense as the campaign period had not started back then.