QC House bet Bong Suntay denies vote-buying accusations
House of Representatives. File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay, who is a candidate for the May 12 election, denied voting-buying allegations after an anti-corruption group filed a case against him for the offense before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In a complaint filed on Tuesday, the group Quezon City Against Corruption (QCAC) alleged Suntay and Quezon City councilor candidates Migs Suntay and Kiko Del Mundo devised a scheme wherein prospective voters were each asked to recruit eight more in exchange for cash.
When asked whether he denied the allegation in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, Suntay answered in the affirmative.
“Definitely, it’s politically motivated,” Suntay further said. “There’s no basis for it. It’s definitely being used as a political gimmick.”
No credibility
“The complainant has no credibility. The one who filed it has no credibility because he’s on the payroll of [Quezon City 4th District Rep. Marvin] Rillo,” he added in mixed English and Filipino.
Suntay is challenging the incumbent Rillo to regain his House seat.
QCAC Chairperson Janno Orate stood as the complainant with an affidavit from a witness the group identified only as “Angel” in a press conference on Tuesday.
READ: Group files vote-buying case vs Quezon City rep, councilor bets
In a phone interview also on Tuesday, Del Mundo also accused Orate of being paid by Rillo.
Orate responded by daring Del Mundo to prove his claim.
Rillo’s response
For his part, in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, Rillo addressed the allegation: “I would like to challenge them that they have to say it live that I paid those two people (Orate and QCAC lawyer Jess Falcis) to make up a case against them.”
“Take pity on the two people. This is a citizen crime watch organization. They’re bribed? A lawyer? They’re bribed? They don’t have the mind and brain to do this because they see the wrongdoing by politicians buying votes?” Rillo added in Filipino.
When asked whether Orate and Falcis were affiliated with him, Rillo said: “It’s not an issue of whose associate that is. The issue here is: Did he buy votes or not?… That’s the defense mechanism of a guilty person. They’ll point fingers.”
READ: Comelec logs 34 complaints of vote-buying, other illegal acts
Rillo then dared his opponent Suntay to publicly address the allegations.
“Why doesn’t he say it live on camera in front of the people that he’s not giving out 500 pesos? Let’s see who the people of District 4 will see as a liar between the two of us… I challenge him,” Rillo said.
