CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third district provincial Board Member Ananias Canlas Jr. on Friday began moves to seek the disqualification of Bacolor Mayor Jomar Hizon, who is running for the gubernatorial post this May 2019 elections, for alleged “vote-buying” .
Canlas, chair of the Liberal Party in Pampanga, in a press conference presented the “so-called” evidence to prove Hizon’s vote-buying act by allegedly giving frozen dressed chicken to voters in Barangay San Roque Bitas in Arayat town when he campaigned there at around 5 p.m. last April 11.
Canlas, also a lawyer by profession, presented the sworn affidavits of Barangay Captain Jovito Bulanadi and six residents attesting that Hizon distributed stubs bearing his name and a photograph of him. The stubs were exchanged for a piece of chicken.
Canlas said he personally took a video and photographs of the Bitas incident.
“This is not hearsay. I personally witnessed the exchange,” he assured. Arayat is part of the third district which Canlas represents in the provincial legislative board.
According to him, Hizon has been doing the same thing since he became mayor of Bacolor. Similar cases of vote-buying against Hizon did not prosper, he admitted.
The Omnibus Election Code penalizes vote-buying by disqualification to run for public office.
Meanwhile, Hizon said: “I cannot make any comment on the alleged vote-buying incident simply because I have not received a formal complaint.”