Pangasinan election hopeful Gilbert Estrella faced the heat on Saturday, boldly denying claims that he is involved in vote-buying. He declared his readiness to confront the accusations head-on.
“Bukas po ang ating tanggapan sa anomang imbestigasyon na isasagawa ng mga kinauukulan hinggil sa paratang na vote-buying,” Estrella asserted firmly.
He stressed, “Wala po tayong itinatago. Wala po tayong ginagawang mali at illegal.” His words aimed to assure the public that everything on his side is transparent and lawful.
The controversy erupted after Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas from Pangasinan’s 6th district raised the alarm. She urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to look deeply into widespread vote-buying reports targeting her province.
According to Primicias-Agabas, “Numerous reports of district-wide massive and unabated vote buying at P3,000 per voter operated by the leaders and supporters of Gilbert Estrella have reached my office particularly in Rosales, Balungao, and Asingan.” The stakes could not be higher.
She also revealed a chilling twist: “Willing complainants are also reluctant to execute affidavits because they are also subjected to harassment and terrorism.” Fear casts a long shadow over the fight for clean elections.
In response, Estrella positioned himself against dirty tactics. “Hindi ako nagsalita ng masama laban o patungkol sa ating katunggali,” he said. He chose respect. He chose a different path.
“Bilang pag-galang at mas nakaba-bata ay pinili nating maging isang magandang ehemplo na dapat sana’y silang mga nakatatanda at matagal na sa pesto ang unang gumagawa,” he explained. Instead of mudslinging, he wants voters to focus on his platforms and plans.
On the other end, Comelec confirmed receiving Primicias-Agabas’ letter. It has since been forwarded to the Committee on Kontra Bigay. This unit is tasked with investigating vote-buying, vote-selling, and abuse of state resources.
Comelec’s latest numbers reveal the scale of the election battle: as of April 28, it issued 213 show-cause orders to candidates nationwide. Among these, 130 involve alleged vote-buying and vote-selling, 67 pertain to abuse of state resources, and 16 address other complaints.
The election heat is on, with stakes rising and eyes watching closely. Will fairness prevail? The fight against vote-buying has never been more intense in Pangasinan.