Gov. Remulla hands out cash prizes during Bongbong-Sara rally, says no rule violated

DASMARINAS CITY, Cavite - Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday gave away cash prizes to those who joined a talent showdown during the campaign rally here of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

While waiting for the Marcos-Duterte tandem in Barangay San Juan, Remulla asked the crowd on who wants to join in the song and dance showdown.

The two who got the loudest cheer and applause from the crowd following their performance received P5,000 each from Remulla, while the third one got P2,000.

In the dance showdown, Remulla, a reelectionist in the 2022 elections, also gave away P5,000 and another P2,000.

No violation

In an interview with reporters, Remulla said he did not violate anything for handing out cash prizes, noting the campaign period for local candidates only starts on March 25.

“Hindi pa ko kandidato, 25th pa ako kandidato… so it was not a violation kasi ako lang ‘yun,” Remulla told reporters.

“Kung nandodoon ‘yung ibang kandidato then it becomes a campaign sortie. Before that, it’s just a gathering until they arrive,” he added.

In a separate message to GMA News Online, Remulla stressed that the cash was a prize and “not a donation.”

“We were having a singing contest and it was a prize not a donation,” he said.

Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), for its part, said such incidents are usually referred to its local offices for possible investigation.

"'Yung pamimigay po ng cash, medyo talagang dudang-duda tayo diyan. ‘Yung mga ganyang instances, nire-refer natin sa ating local officials for investigation. From local level, kung ang pagbabasehan lang natin ay news reports, medyo unfair po ‘yun," said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez during the Laging Handa briefing.

"Kaya ang ginagawa natin, ‘pag may reports tayong nakukuhang ganyan, ay talagang nire-refer natin sa local Comelec officials natin for investigation," he added.

(Distribution of cash is really suspicious. We refer instances like that to our local offices for investigation. Basing it on news reports is unfair. That's what we do if we receive information like that, refer to local Comelec officials for investigation.)

Jimenez underscored that what is clear is that distributing money in order to solicit votes is a form of vote-buying.

"If necessary, referral to the law department for a filing of a case. Ang malinaw sa atin, giving money for the purpose of soliciting votes, vote-buying po ‘yan. Kailangan lang natin patunayan,” Jimenez said.

(If necessary we'll refer it to the law department for a filing of a case. What is clear is giving money for the purpose of soliciting votes is vote-buying. We just need to prove it.)  —KBK, GMA News