HIGH TECH PROCESSING

LINGAYEN–Gov. Amado Espino Jr. denounced what he calls massive vote-buying all over Pangasinan perpetrated by his opponents using modern technology whom he accused of bastardizing legal processes instituted by the election laws and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a press conference at the Urduja House on Friday, Espino showed the local media decks of Quick Response (QR) cards allegedly issued by the camp of former Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco to registered voters in Pangasinan to be able to claim cash.

The QR card reportedly contains information about the voter-stub holder. The release of the cash is reportedly accompanied by a campaign material promoting the candidacies of Cojuangco and that of his runningmate, Mark Macanlalay.

Mr. Espino said Cojuangco and his ally Rosendo So already admitted owning these QR-coded cards purportedly issued to their coordinators and watchers.

However, Espino flatly refuted the claim because he said he as well as his son and namesake Board Member Amado “Pogi” Espino III, his brother Cesar and nephew Joseph, and his other brother, Bautista Mayor Amadeo Espino and their mother, who live in Bautista, were also sent their QR-coded cards.

The photo of the person as well as his or her data base appear on a computer screen when the card is scanned by a computer system. The data retrieved is the same as the data reflected in Comelec’s records.

“Am I their campaign coordinator or watcher? Gov. Espino quipped. “Mapakababa naman ang tingin nila sa akin.”

Several employees of the provincial government also received QR-coded cards and showed these to the media. They denied they are Cojuangco’s coordinators or watchers.

“Wala silang pakundangan, wala silang pakialam kung anuman ang mangayayari sa mga tao at mga institusyon na mangangalaga sa eleksyon,” the governor said.

Mr. Espino also bewailed the claim of Mr. Cojuangco that he (Espino) is the one buying votes. “Cojuangco is lying,” he said  “Ito nga eh, huling-huli sila,” he added as he raised the stub sent to him.

As to the reported call of Cojuangco to President Aquino asking for the relief of Regional Director Chief Supt. Ericson Velasquez and Provincial Director Sr. Supt Edgar Allan Okubo because they are reportedly partial to Mr. Espino, the governor said Cojuangco’s claim is not true.

He said he was the one who asked for the relief of then P/Sr. Supt. Marlou Chan as police deputy regional director for operations because he is biased against him but Chan was promoted to chief superintendent instead.

Espino said hundreds of his supporters who received QR cards surrendered these to him even as he cited an incident in Barangay Bued, Calasiao, when the long line of voters at a vote-buying center blocked vehicles and kept at standstill for three hours.

“Hindi na ito maganda. Nakakahiya na,” he said

He added that six elderly people collapsed and two almost died while queuing at an airport hangar in Binalonan owned by the Guico family borrowed by the Cojuangcos as the claim center that operated from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Asked by newsmen whether he will file a case for violation of the election law, Mr. Espino said the matter is already being studied by his lawyer but he was told that Sixth District Board Member Ranjt Ramos Shahani is set to file a case on his own. (Leonardo Micua)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments