MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Danilo Lim vehemently denied yesterday that he endorsed a candidate for barangay chairman in Sta. Lucia, Pasig City.
In a text message to The STAR, Lim said Eddie Gavino visited his office along with some of the MMDA chief’s fraternity brothers some time ago and asked to have a photo with him.
“We never talked, he never said anything about running for barangay captain,” Lim, who is in the United States, said.
Lim added that he does not know Gavino personally and was not aware that he would use their photos for campaigning. He said that he has already instructed his staff to inform Gavino not to use him in his political activities.
Photos of Lim, raising the hand of Gavino with the MMDA’s logo as the background, were spotted in some parts of Barangay Sta. Lucia ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.
The photos were removed yesterday morning.
Gavino did not respond when asked yesterday afternoon to comment on Lim’s denial. He confirmed last Sunday that he was endorsed by the MMDA chief.
Under a joint circular of the Commission on Elections and the Civil Service Commission, government officials and employees are prohibited from engaging in partisan politics.