Lure of Money
• Witnesses tags party-list coordinator behind signature campaign for charter change
coordinates with to
WITNESSES testified there was “signature buying” on the ground as people were lured into signing their signatures due to ayuda or financial assistance promised to them.
Centro San JuanAgdao District barangay chair Rene Estorpe said their testimonies openly tagged Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist as the group behind the signature campaign in Davao, during the public hearing of the committee on electoral reform and people’s participation, in the city on Feb. 2.
He claimed to have confiscated documents from his staff who distributed the forms to his constituents without proper consultation with the barangay.
Estorpe said a certain Benzar Yap, who he identified as a trusted PBA Partylist political coordinator, handed the forms to his staff and instructed them to collect the signatures of 250 persons in exchange for P4,000.
The barangay chair added after the forms were confiscated, residents flocked to his office to withdraw their signatures. He brought to the hearing a 30-page triplicated paper bundle of signed documents.
A witness claiming to be PBA barangay coordinator from Barangay San Antonio also tagged Yap as the one who gave her instructions. The witness was told that after the residents sign the forms, they will be handed out claim stubs for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), a government aid through the Department of Social
Welfare and Development.
“Ang sinabi lang po sa akin, na once makapirma yung tao bigyan ko raw po ng ganito [claim stub]. First time ko marinig ‘yung AICS..that’s why sabi ko sa mga napag-utusan ko, sabihin na lang na assistance,” she said stressing she only did what she was told.
The witness however did not rule out there was no amount mentioned but was told only to keep the claim stub and wait for further notice. However, only one claim stub was given to every household.
Upon inquiries made by Senator Bato dela Rosa, one of the purok leaders testified she only signed the forms after hearing the ayuda without having any background on the People’s Initiative.
Three residents from Barangay Bunawan testi