Korina Sanchez. 黑料社 PHOTO
Why was broadcaster and TV personality Korina Sanchez giving out checks and farm equipment during an official event of the Department of Agriculture (DA)?
Peter Lavi帽a, spokesperson of presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, criticized the wife of Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas, who joined DA officials on stage during the distribution of some P611-million worth of agriculture funds and equipment in Tagum City on Saturday.
Sanchez also joined similar DA events in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato and Mexico, Pampanga.
鈥淚s Korina employed by the DA? Why is she the one giving the checks to the farmers?鈥� Lavi帽a asked, adding that if so, her being employed by the DA was 鈥渃learly a conflict of interest.鈥�
Personally handing out cash and farm equipment to farmers is also a form of bribery and vote-buying to influence voters to support her husband, he said.
鈥淜orina is now an accomplice in a systematic shameless act that conditions the electorate to accept doles in exchange for votes,鈥� said Lavi帽a.
But Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said he saw 鈥渘othing wrong with听 (Sanchez distributing cash and implements), because (Roxas) was being endorsed by the national government.鈥�
The DA official added that should Roxas win, he would continue the Aquino administration鈥檚 programs for farmers, among them, the construction of more farm-to-market roads, the organic fertilizer program and irrigation projects.
Lavi帽a said Sanchez鈥檚 acts showed a pattern of 鈥渃reative vote-buying,鈥� which local DA officials had questioned.
鈥淭hese local DA officials could not openly oppose Sanchez鈥檚 presence, but they鈥檙e questioning it because they鈥檙e accountable to the (Commission on Audit) for the allocation (of funds distributed during the DA event,)鈥� he said.
Lavi帽a said the public should be reminded of the DA鈥檚 involvement in the pork barrel scam allegedly perpetrated led by Janet Lim-Napoles.
鈥淭he DA was also used as a conduit for the kickbacks of Napoles and of some lawmakers.听 This should not happen again,鈥� the Duterte spokesperson added. With a report by Nico Alconaba, Inquirer Mindanao
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