00:00 P100 for a signature?
00:03 That's what Albay's representative Ed Selagman promised
00:06 to pay to sign the People's Initiative
00:09 and amend the Constitution.
00:12 According to some officials, no payment was made.
00:15 Witness Tina Panginiban Perez.
00:17 In the photos posted by former ACOBICO representative Alfredo Pido Garbin,
00:24 some of the Albay's mayors met on January 5.
00:28 He was invited to speak on the People's Initiative
00:32 as the former chairperson of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
00:36 In the last meeting, Albay's 1st District Representative Ed Selagman said
00:41 that he gave money to pay P100 for each signature on the People's Initiative.
00:48 In that meeting, he gave 50% of P100 per voter.
01:00 He said that the balance of 50% will be followed.
01:05 We don't know where the funds came from,
01:08 but what happened in the meeting
01:11 were the ranking members of the ACOBICOL party list,
01:18 incumbent representative Jill Bongalon of the party list,
01:22 and the former congressman of the party list, Pido Garbin.
01:27 The funds were given by the ACOBICOL coordinators.
01:36 For one mayor, P50 is P125,000.
01:42 For others, it's more.
01:45 For example, the other one is P142,500.
01:54 This is P50 of P100 per voter.
02:00 According to Selagman, three mayors in his district were given money.
02:06 The People's Initiative or PI is a way to amend the Constitution.
02:11 Under this, the people can pass an amendment
02:16 if they can get signatures that will not be less than 12% of registered voters,
02:22 as long as each district will not be less than 3%.
02:27 My question is the process of buying votes or petitions.
02:38 That's my question.
02:40 Under the Omnibus Election Code,
02:42 it is prohibited to sell or buy votes.
02:49 This is a criminal offense.
02:52 Senator Aimee Marcos,
02:53 the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms,
02:57 also denied buying or buying signatures.
03:00 Garvey confirmed that he had a help,
03:04 which is called the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Albi Chapter,
03:08 but he was not given money.
03:10 There was a meeting that transpired allegations on low funds or money,
03:18 that's a wild and faceless accusation.
03:21 In a statement, Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Jill Bongalon confirmed
03:28 that he was there to help.
03:30 They are both resource persons of Garvey.
03:33 He was also denied giving money.
03:36 Garvey and Bongalon sent a statement by LMP Albi Chapter President
03:42 and Polanggi Mayor Adrian Salceda,
03:45 where they confirmed that 15 of the 18 mayors signed for Chacha.
03:52 Mayor Salceda also denied that they were part of the fund.
03:56 Comelec said that the issue has not yet reached them.
04:01 The jurisdiction of Comelec has not yet entered here
04:05 because it is not yet election period.
04:07 We have not yet been able to file anything.
04:09 For GMA Integrated News, Tina Panganiban Perez, your witness.
04:15 [music]
