CAVITE – Gov. Jonvic Remulla maintained that he didn't violate any rules in giving away cash prizes to audience members who performed on stage during a UniTeam mini-rally in Dasmariñas City on Tuesday, March 22.
"It wasn’t to entice a person to vote. It was a singing contest before the start of a rally. No slogans or mention of any candidate was mentioned. I am not a candidate yet neither was I campaigning for one," Remulla told the Manila Bulletin via text message.
Omnibus Election Code Article XXII Sec. 261 prohibits vote-buying, defined as "any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value... to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate."
Remulla filed a certificate of candidacy to seek a second term as the provincial chief executive in October. The campaign period for locally-elected positions is set to start on March 25.
In February, Remulla said that presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will get Cavite's 800,000 plus votes – a claim that Caviteño supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo rejected through the hashtag #800KMinusOne, which was trending on Twitter when Robredo visited the province on March 4.
On March 5, Gov. Remulla's older brother, Cavite 7th district Rep. Jesus “Boying” Remulla alleged that a political campaign held in Cavite the night before paid P500 each to attendees.
Following the allegations, Robredo's camp asked supporters to continue the “people’s campaign” for the only female presidential aspirant.