• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The legal counsel for former Bacolod congressman and former mayor Evelio Leonardia has requested the Commission on Elections – Bacolod, in behalf of his client, to conduct a motu proprio investigation on Team Asenso’s grand rally at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds on Saturday, for possible abuse of state resources (ASR).
In his letter to Bacolod Election Officer Revo Sorbito dated May 11, Jose Jireh Alimon said that among the acts constituting abuse of state resources pursuant to Section 30 (c), Article III of Comelec Resolution No. 11104, is the use of any equipment, vehicle, facility, apparatus, or paraphernalia owned by the government or by its political subdivision, agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations, for any election campaign or partisan political activity.
As the BCGC/New Government Center is a facility rightfully owned by the local government of Bacolod City and not by any politician or political party, it follows that no election campaign or partisan political activity is allowed there in accordance with Comelec Resolution No. 11104, Alimon added.
Meanwhile, the grand rally of Team Asenso led by congressional aspirant Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, mayoralty candidate Greg Gasataya, and vice mayoralty candidate Claudio Puentevella Saturday at the BCGC grounds drew a huge crowd with the presence of showbiz personalities like Vice Ganda, Gabby Concepcion, Noel Cabangon, and Jackie Gonzaga, among others.
Team El Cid led by Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and Councilor Renecito Novero, who are running for congressman, mayor, and vice mayor, respectively, on the other hand, held their grand rally at the Bacolod City Public Plaza, which is designated as a freedom park, following a mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral Friday.
Prior to the grand rally, all candidates of Team El Cid also underwent drug tests, where all tested negative.*
