Presidential candidate Isko to give fire victims financial aid from campaign funds
MANILA Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso visited victims of a recent fire in Cavite on Sunday where he promised to give 790 families P10,000 each from “personal funds and donations from friends and supporters.”
“Every family whose house was burnt will receive P10,000,” he was quoted as saying in Filipino in a statement released on Monday. “Don’t use it for (gambling), okay? Use it to buy roofing materials and plywood for your walls.”
Commission on Elections Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said in a press briefing earlier this year that candidates are banned from giving money or anything of value, and call it aid, locally known as ayuda, during the campaign period, which started Feb.8.
“You can no longer give money away and say it’s for ayuda. You cannot walk around with a cash gun and make it rain,” he said.
Vote buying or selling is a prohibited act under the Omnibus Election Code. A case will have to be filed and go through the prescribed legal process.
Mass housing is one of the main programs under the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer’s governance agenda. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan
