Singson disputes GMA News report on vote-buying try in N Ecija

Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit" Singson disputed a GMA News report Wednesday night that he promised cash incentives to Nueva Ecija village heads when he asked for their vote recently during a gathering in the province. “Walang P50,000 (I’m not giving away P50,000)," Singson told GMA’s News on Q in a telephone interview minutes after it aired a report that the Team Unity bet is in trouble for allegedly buying the votes of village heads in the province. GMA News' 24 Oras earlier in the night also aired the same report by Tina Panganiban Perez. “Hinihiling nila anting-anting dahil hindi raw ako namamatay o di sabi ko sige bibigyan ko kayo ng anting-anting (They are asking for my amulet because I have cheated death so I said OK I will give them amulets)," he told News on Q anchor Rhea Santos. Singson said he would still welcome any investigation that would be initiated by the Commission on Elections into the vote-buying allegation. “Kung may magrereklamo e di hihintayin ko sila sa Comelec (If there would be complaints I will see them at the Comelec)," he said. An earlier footage of the news program showed Singson appealing to village heads:“Ako meron ding sariling ibibigay bawat barangay kung makapasok ako ng… 12 naman yan e di ba marami. Ipasok nyo ako ng one to five meron din po akong ibibigay na limampung libo bawat barangay." (I also have something for each barangay if could make it…it’s only a 12-man slot but it’s a lot. If you could make me land in the top five I would give 50,000 to each village.) After noticing that there were members of media among the audience, Singson quickly clarified his statement by saying each barangay would receive 50,000 amulets and not money. “Anting-anting ha baka sabihin nila namumudmod na naman tayo ng pera. 50,000 anting-anting ibibigay ko sa bawat barangay. Baka banatan na naman tayo may media yata," he said. The Omnibus Election Code prohibits any person from giving, offering or giving money or anything of value in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate. The act is considered vote-buying. The Commission on Elections had warned Manny Pacquiao, congressional candidate in General Santos, from giving “balato" or bonus to his constituents after he knocked down Mexican boxer Jorge Solis. “It sounds improper that these statements should be made especially for a candidate. Definitely a candidate should avoid all possibilities of appearing to use money to get votes," Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in reaction to Singson’s offer. Singson had drawn flak for giving money during a raffle in one of their provincial sorties. He also gave P500 to the day care children held hostage by businessman Armando Ducat. - GMANews.TV