Nothing wrong, says Rama: Senior Citizens' head admits campaigning vs. San Nicolas barangay captain

CEBU, Philippines – Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) head Guillermo Casinillo is accused of violating the Omnibus Election Code for campaigning in favor of a candidate for barangay captain in San Nicolas, Cebu City.

The complaint came from the camp of incumbent San Nicolas Barangay Captain Edgar Lauron, who is running against a certain Boy Desamparado, the candidate Casinillo endorses.

Casinillo was also accused of threatening senior citizens in their barangay that they would be removed from the list of beneficiaries of the City Government's financial assistance to senior citizens if they will vote for Lauron.

Casinillo did not deny the matter. Instead, he insists he has not violated any law for expressing his mind.

Mayor Michael Rama also said there is nothing wrong with Casinillo's campaigning because he is not an employee of the city hall.

Casinillo is a consultant on senior citizens' matters under Rama's office with a monthly remuneration of P18,000.

He is also the OSCA head, which is not a formal unit at the city government.

"I still have the right to campaign because I am not part of the regular payroll of the City Hall. Whatever I am doing, pulos gyud within the bounds of law. I have the right to express what I think as a resident of San Nicolas proper," Casinillo said.

He admitted he told the senior citizen voters in their barangay not to vote for the incumbent captain for his failure to release the one percent share of the Senior Citizen Organization from the barangay's budget.

"Wala gud niya gi-release ang para unta sa among mga senior citizens, so kung botaran namo sya, dili lang gihapon mi makagamit sa budget nga para unta sa amua," he said. 

Casinillo said they have at least P36,000 unreleased funds despite his submission of the Work and Financial Plan for this year.

He also denied that he threatened the senior citizens to be removed from the list of beneficiaries because a member can only be removed once he or she is dead.

Besides, he said, they have almost completed the release of P4,000-annual cash assistance from the City Government to some 30,000 senior citizens.

"These are all black propaganda. Na-compromise hinuon ang opisina sa OSCA," Casinillo said. (FREEMAN)