Government vehicle used in campaign?
A mayoral candidate in Sogod town has filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Sogod Mayor and reelectionist Lissa Marie “Moonyeen” Durano – Streegan, and six others for allegedly using government vehicles in transporting election campaign materials.
Dean Severo Dosado, former vice mayor of Sogod and Streegan’s political rival, said Streegan should be held liable for violating the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.
He attached the affidavits of two witnesses to his complaint.
In her affidavit, Amelita Monteagudo Collamat said that on the evening of March 27, she saw a white government vehicle, with plate number 8343, pass by her residence, filled with campaign materials.
The vehicle was marked “Municipality of Sogod.”
In a separate affidavit, Michael Sugarol said he was standing along the road when he saw the same government vehicle loaded with election campaign signage of Mayor Streegan.
He said he saw Reil Flores, a job order employee, and five unidentified companions unloading and posting tarpaulins and campaign posters of Streegan and her slate.
He said he immediately called Dosado who instructed him to report the incident to the police.
“Ako ang nag-file og complaint kay nagnihit na sa among lungsod ang dunay igong kaisog sa pagpangita sa katarong ug kaangayan (I filed the complaint because there is a scarcity of people in our town who have the courage to seek justice and equality),” Dosado told CDN in Cebuano through a text message.
He had also previously filed a complaint against Streegan who allegedly brought “goons” during her visits to barangays, an accusation the mayor vehemently denied.
Article 22, Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code provides that the use of “any equipment, vehicle, facility, apparatus, or paraphernalia owned by the government or by its political subdivisions, agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations, or by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for any election campaign or for any partisan political activity” is considered an electoral offense.
Violators could face imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years.
Cebu Daily News tried to contact Streegan but she didn’t answer our calls and text messages.
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