Skeletons in the closet

This election is turning out to be race among candidates with skeletons in their closets and whoever has less, or at least manages to keep the skeletons inside and away from the prying eyes of the other candidates, has a better chance of winning.

Take the case of Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo whose squeaky clean image is being threatened by media reports that she had illegally solicited and accepted campaign funds from foreign contributors in the 2013 congressional race, an offense that should have disqualified her from running for vice president.

According to the said reports, two cases were filed against Robredo in 2013 by former Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte and his wife Nelly, who ran but lost to Robredo that same year. These cases remain pending before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The complaint alleged that Robredo had solicited and received campaign donations from at least seven American nationals that includes Loida Lewis, and three American entitites, namely The Unlimited Agency, Inc., The Bicol USA of the Midwest, and Fundrazr, a website used to raise funds from anonymous donors abroad.

Nelly Villafuerte said that Fundrazr is reportedly the flagship product of a company called Connection Point Systems, a privately owned and funded Canadian company.

She presented as proof the receipt of the donations from the foreign individuals and entities that was acknowledged by Robredo in her Facebook account, one newspaper report said.

The same news report revealed that a second complaint was filed by Luis Villafuerte, who accused Robredo of not reporting to the Comelec the names of those who actually contributed to her campaign fund.

Robredo has reportedly executed a counter-affidavit disowning Lewis as her agent to solicit campaign funds but admitted that the latter turned over to her Lewis’ personal contributions and that no other contributions came from other foreign donors. Robredo also denied knowledge of the existence of her own website and that it was only created under her name.

The Villafuertes have insisted that Lewis was born a Filipino but was an American citizen when she made her donation to Robredo, who thus violated the Omnibus Election Code in particular Section 96 which prohibits solicitation or receiving funds from foreign donors.

Nelly said Robredo acknowledged the receipt of the foreign donations on her website, listing the names of the foreign individuals and entities who contributed to her campaign fund. Robredo’s website was deactivated after the cases were filed against her.

The Villafuerte added that Lewis could not take refuge under dual citizenship law because she had acquired her American citizenship long before the law was enacted.

But almost three years after the complaint was lodged against Robredo, the Comelec has yet to file any criminal information before any court, despite the fact that probable cause obviously exists and that financial contribution to the political campaign of the defendant from foreign source is indictable as an election offense, the Villafuertes said in the complaint.

Nelly said in a news report that had the Comelec filed the case in court and had the court found Robredo guilty, she would have been disqualified from holding public office and could have also served jail time.

There has got to be a way to make Comelec an impartial body.

An urban poor group has reportedly asked the Comelec to conduct an investigation on the Liberal Party’s alleged use of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps to force beneficiaries to attend rallies.

The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) accused LP of  vote-buying and blackmailing by allegedly using 4Ps to draw support for LP standard bearer Mar Roxas, and his running mate Leni Robredo.

The group alleged that the 4Ps beneficiaries were fooled after being told that they would attend a unity walk and gather for the Conditional Cash Transfer Bill at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Imagine their surprise when they learned that it was a Roxas-Robredo campaign rally, with no less than DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman in attendance.

According to the group’s letter to Comelec chief Andy Bautista, DSWD representatives told communities that they would receive assistance under the 4Ps if they would vote for Mar and Leni, if they would join in the campaign rallies of LP candidates, and if they would not join activities organized by groups against the Aquino administration.

Earlier, a video circulated online showing the distribution of cash envelopes at an LP rally in Pikit, North Cotabato. The party has said the matter is under investigation.

Roxas condemned the supposed distribution of envelopes, maintaining that they have prohibited their members from doing such during the campaign.

Recently, the administration also drew flak over photos posted online showing actress-host and presidential sister Kris Aquino coming down a chopper, wearing a yellow shirt—the signature color of LP. Malacañang defended the Kris, saying as sister of President Benigno Aquino III, she is allowed to share official rides with him.

The Comelec has said it is looking into this matter and urged critics to file a formal complaint.

Don’t expect the present Comelec leadership to act on all these. There are forces here beyond our control and all these surveys reporting who are leading the surveys may be useless in the end.

One OFW who just voted in the recent overseas voting held by Comelec revealed that while one presidential candidate was almost the unanimous choice among Filipinos in that part of the world, that particular candidate reportedly got zero votes.

If this is true, then we are screwed.

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