PASIG CITY, Philippines – A former city hall employee said he filed a petition to disqualify Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto over vote buying, but admitted he did not know Sotto had secured an exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the supposedly unlawful assistance distribution he flagged.

Vic Barral, who said he held a “high position” in the local government before Sotto’s administration, told reporters and vloggers at a media conference on Saturday, May 10, that he filed the petition with the Comelec the previous day. He accused Sotto of violating a Comelec policy that prohibits government officials from disbursing funds within 45 days of an election, because such activities may be construed as vote buying.

Barral cited an event at the Tanghalang Pasigueño on May 6, in which the city’s scholarship office distributed programmed cash allowances to scholars. Barral’s lawyer, Ferdie Topacio, noted that the disbursement ban only exempts medical and burial expenses.

Earlier that Saturday morning, Sotto posted on Facebook a screencap of a callout for a media conference about a “vote-buying case vs. Mayor Vico”. In the caption, he explained that the activity in question was a long-running, regular program of the local government.

He included a link to a copy of the Comelec document, dated March 24, granting his request for exemptions for a number of programs, including the “Provision of Educational Materials and Provision of School Allowance and School Contribution (Petty Cash).” The document was signed by Comelec Chairman George Garcia.

When asked what this Comelec exemption meant for the petition, Topacio said Sotto may raise it in his defense. Topacio and Barral said they did not know about the exemption.

“We were not aware, but we are banking on the general provisions of the law that the only exemptions are burial and medical expenses,” Topacio said.

Barral said he is seeking Sotto’s disqualification because he found it wrong that the city government distributed scholars’ cash allowances near voting day. He said he is a member of the group Citizens’ Crime Watch, so he decided to raise the matter with Topacio, who is the group’s national chairman.

Barral also admitted being disgruntled at having been sidelined under Sotto’s administration, and supporting Sotto’s opponent for mayor, construction magnate Sarah Discaya.

“Well, to be honest, sabi ko nga kanina, I’m a former city government employee. On which na isa ako sa mga nasikil noon. Although, nagkaroon ako dati kasi ng on-high position sa city hall. Pero when napalitan yung administration, I observed, and isa ako sa mga nalipat na muntik pa ngang gawing utility,” Barral said.

“Eh, syempre — kahit naman sino na may pinag-aralan, ilalagay mo sa ganun dahil lang sa previous administration? So, tinanggap naman namin. But, ngayon, nung ako ay isang ordinary mamamayan na, na naninirahan sa Pasig, siyempre, nung lumaban si Ate Sarah, support ako. Support ako, to be honest.“

(Well, to be honest, as I said earlier, I’m a former government employee, and I am one of those who were harassed then. Although, I used to have a high position at city hall. But when the administration changed, I observed, and I was one of those transferred and nearly relegated to utility. Of course — anyone who’s had an education, and you treat them like that just because they’re from the previous administration? But we accepted that. But now, when I am an ordinary citizen living in Pasig, of course, when Ate Sarah ran, I supported. I supported, to be honest.)

Topacio said Barral’s background should have no bearing on the merits of his petition.

The election in Pasig is a contest between Sotto’s reform and good governance agenda, and Discaya’s promises of lavish infrastructure and ayuda (aid). Sotto’s crackdown on corruption in procurements has led to billions of pesos in savings that have been used to expand social services.

Unable to deny Sotto’s “good governance,” Discaya said it, however, fell short of meeting the poor’s daily needs, which she promised to address. – Rappler.com