Lawmaker cautioned vs telling stories that gov’t money is funding Chacha

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MANILA, Philippines —Albay First District Representative Edcel Lagman’s story about an ongoing monetary scheme that gather signatures for Charter change (Chacha) via People’s Initiative is baseless.

Former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative and current Ako Bicol Executive Director Alfredo Garbin Jr. made the statement.

His reaction comes, after he was named by Lagman as among the local leaders in Albay who are supposedly engaging in the activity.

“Congressman Lagman’s claim that mayors in Albay are being pressured into joining the movement deserves to be ignored and be given no consideration at all,” Garbin said.

“His inference of criminal activities must stop. His claims of criminal violations of the election law [are] unsupported by any evidence or sworn statements by his supposed witnesses,” he noted.

Lagman earlier said local officials in his province were summoned for a meeting on Chacha.

He added local leaders were given funds to support the campaign to amend the 1986 Constitution.

Lagman pointed out the money distributed came from the public coffers.

Garbin cautioned Lagman that he might sue the lawmaker if he continues to throw accusations against him.

“This is a peaceful movement, but I caution him from further dragging down the names of those who do not subscribe to his views, lest he open himself up to criminal charges,” he said.

“At the top of my mind is cyber libel,” he warned.

In response, Lagman issued a short message: “I will just see him at the Supreme Court.”