ANAD readies raps vs. Odilao

CEBU, Philippines - The Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) will be filing criminal and civil cases against David Odilao Jr. for allegedly claiming that he is the party list’s representative and for creating another wing of the group.

ANAD legal counsel Rolando Cipriano said they are now gathering the necessary documents to support the filing of a case for malicious misrepresentation and a separate case of forgery before the Commission on Elections, which they intend to file within the next two weeks.

Cipriano said they are also looking at the possibility of filing a case for falsification of documents against Odilao.

ANAD Party List Representative Pastor “Jun” Alcover alleged that May last year, he gave Odilao about P40,000 as chief of staff and, from October to December, provided him further with mobilization fund to recruit 250,000 members.

This was reportedly agreed during the group’s national congress on October 20, the last time that Odilao allegedly reported to the group.

Alcover said Odilao’s move of calling for a general assembly in Manila on March 7 showed Odilao is not aware of the party’s Constitution.

“There is no general assembly in the Constitution. The highest policy-making body is the National Congress. This is composed of regional representatives,” Alcover explained, adding, “Abi nako’g komedya ra to iya…”

Alcover said he reportedly told Odilao that the latter would be the party’s third nominee, but Odilao allegedly told him, “Second nominee or nothing…2010 or never.”

“I need somebody who can help me financially… he’s just a chief of staff, I’m the congressman,” Alcover said.

He said Odilao has reportedly been axed from the party since February this year.

“He declared himself and replaced me? He’s nobody, he’s nothing in our party list,” Alcover said.

Alcover is confident that the party list can still get three seats in the lower house even without Odilao’s support. “We only need 1.5 million to get this,” he said.

In a phone interview, Odilao said the plan of ANAD to file cases against him is “pure and simple harassment.”

He said his conflict with Alcover reportedly stemmed from a “simple matter” when he refused to heed Alcover’s instructed for him to sign a special power of attorney, which would state that there should only be one person to hold the salary of the ANAD personnel.

“Their action is a pure and simple harassment,” Odilao said.

Odilao said that because the issue is purely political, Alcover should wait for the decision of the Comelec before resorting to any legal action.

“This is a democratic country so ngano masuko man sya? Total, naa naman na sa Comelec…na-file nana didto so ngano dili man sila kapaabot sa decision sa Comelec? Nganong mag una-una man jud sila?” Odilao said.

“If the Comelec will tell nga sayop mi, then that’s the time nga pwede na jud sila mo-file og case against me, but karon wala paman ang decision sa Comelec so dapat magpaabot sa sila,” Odilao added.

 Odilao said he was allegedly not informed that he was expelled from the party.

“I have not received any of the documents stating that he [Alcover] expelled me from ANAD… they expelled me without any due process… wala gani ko kabalo unsa’y rason nganong gi-tangtang ko sa grupo,” Odilao said.

Odilao denied that he is using ANAD’s money for his candidacy. He said it is impossible for him to use the party’s funds because he reportedly does not have any access to the same.

“Actually, naa pa gani ko kubrahonon nga P5,000 nga sweldo nako pero hangtod ron, wala pa jud nako nakuha,” Odilao said.

“What is being done by Alcover is a counter productive… dili man ko kontra sa ANAD, in fact ako pa ganing gina-campaign ang grupo,” he added.

“As of now, magpaabot sa’ko sa decision sa Comelec. Bahala na ang Comelec mu-decide if kinsa ang sakto namo. All I can say is, wala ko’y sala kay ako rang gibuhat ang sakto,” Odilao said further. — Dorothy Mae E. Acabo and Sheila Marie E. Catacutan, NORSU Interns and Marjun A. Baguio/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)