Garbin: ‘Mobilization fund’ given to Albay mayors only to cover costs of collecting signatures for Cha-Cha drive

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) — Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. denied allegations of vote buying, saying he sees nothing wrong with the allocation of a mobilization fund that will be used to cover expenditures of volunteers collecting signatures for the proposed people’s initiative to amend the charter.

“Even the Omnibus Election Code allows election expenditures. Ang mga kandidato (Even candidates are) allowed to spend ₱5, or ₱10 for voters for their election campaign so it should not be taken as gospel truth, as an ultimate proof that there was indeed vote buying for that signature,” Garbin told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier claimed that coordinators from Ako Bicol party-list released funds for a ₱100 per voter campaign to change the charter via people’s initiative. This happened during a Jan. 5 meeting attended by Albay’s municipal mayors, as well as Garbin as a resource speaker to tackle the proposed charter change.

“The Omnibus Election Code on the ban on buying and selling of votes is applicable so there is a criminal offense here,” Lagman told CNN Philippines.

READ: Criminal rap vs. those involved in alleged vote buying for Cha-Cha possible — lawmaker

He even showed the alleged document given to the mayors that showed a breakdown of the mobilization fund, and the initial amount to be released.

Garbin said based on his understanding, it is a mobilization fund that will be used by volunteers for their transportation fare, gas, and food expenses as the collection of signatures starts, which may take weeks or months.

READ: Garbin: Albay mayors want Cha-Cha, started collecting signatures

“This assertion should not even be considered or should not be even given weight in this discussion. Siguro dapat magfocus tayo doon sa noble intentionng ating mga movers (Maybe we should just focus on the noble intention of our movers),” he added.

Garbin also said he cannot confirm nor deny if such a paper was distributed and if indeed funds were handed out on Jan. 5, but he emphasized it is “a mere scrap of paper” since it does not say anything about giving ₱100 in exchange for a signature.

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