Dasmariñas LGU's P50-M donation not a bribe, Comelec says

The Dasmariñas local government unit's donation of P50 million to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been clarified as additional funds for the conduct of special elections, countering claims on social media that it was a bribe. The donation was made by Acting Dasmariñas City Mayor Elpidio “Thirdy” Barzaga, whose mother, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, is a candidate in the special elections for the vacant Cavite 4th District seat in the House of Representatives. Facebook pages, with a following of over 454,000, had posted claims that the P50 million donation from city funds to Comelec was questionable, with attached graphics dubbing the move as “legal bribery in broad daylight.” Social media users criticized Barzaga for alleged corruption, with some comments suggesting the move guaranteed his mother’s win. However, Comelec clarified in a post on July 30 that the P50 million is for additional funds for the orderly and successful conduct of the special elections. “This fund is not a form of bribery to influence the Comelec and distort the outcome of the special elections in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Bribery is never legal. This blatant accusation against the Comelec that is without sufficient basis and is not supported by evidence is a basic essence of disinformation,” the poll body said. The special election, scheduled for August 29, aims to fill the vacant 4th District representative spot in Cavite after the House of Representatives expelled Kiko Barzaga on June 2. Incumbent Dasmariñas City Mayor Jennifer Austria Barzaga is among the five candidates for the position. There are 437,730 registered voters in the fourth legislative district of Cavite expected to cast their ballots. This incident highlights the heightened public scrutiny on the use of public funds during election periods in the Philippines, where transparency and electoral integrity are paramount concerns for citizens.