Bribe allegations of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Albay mayors are “imaginary.”

The local officials were supposedly summoned on 5 January and were given mobilization funds to collect voters’ signatures to push for Charter change via a people’s initiative, a mode of amending the Constitution.

Former Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., who chaired the House committee on constitutional amendments in the 18th Congress, denied Lagman’s claim that the supermajority coalition had launched the PI movement from his province.

“Allegation is not equivalent to proof or evidence. When you are the one making the accusation, there must be evidence or proof. Until now, the identity of those mayors he identified [are] still imaginary. No one has come out to pinpoint who those mayors are,” Garbin said in a radio interview.

The erstwhile lawmaker was referring to Lagman’s statement last week that municipal mayors in Albay were notified of a general meeting and were informed that overhauling the Constitution would be pushed through via PI.

Mob funds fiction

Lagman claimed that Albay mayors were given mobilization funds and the forms to be signed by at least three percent of the registered voters of the legislative district to which their municipalities belong.

According to Lagman, voters who would sign the PI petition will be given P100 each, 50 percent of which has already been advanced to the municipal mayors and respective coordinators.

Lagman even produced the forms used for the signature campaign to the House reporters.

In downplaying Lagman’s claim, Garbin said the alleged forms “remains a piece of paper because no one is testifying.”

The fact that Lagman wasn’t there at the meeting undermines the credibility of his claims, Garbin said.

Garbin even called Lagman’s allegation “all false.”

“I don’t understand why his statements are given weight or consideration,” Garbin said.

So far, the signature campaign in Albay province has been successful as it has received good responses, including in Lagman’s turf, according to Garbin.

“Even in the district of Congressman Lagman, the response is good. The response in his district is not just 3 percent, it may reach ten or more,” he said.

Members of Congress from the supermajority coalition have voiced their support for Charter change, or cha-cha.

In December, House leaders, including Speaker Martin Romualdez, announced their renewed attempt for cha-cha, which is scheduled to start rolling this year, after the House’s proposal of amending the Constitution through a constitutional convention or con-con was not acted on in the Senate earlier last year.

Senators, including Imee Marcos, have voiced strong objection to the House’s renewed push for constitutional reforms, claiming the move did not get approval from his brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Senator Marcos alleged that about P20 million is offered per district to come out with petitions for cha-cha, which Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez had denied.

Attempts to revamp the Charter have been derailed due to fears that the move is motivated by term extension.

Romualdez had reassured that the sole objective of the move is to revise the “restrictive” economic restrictions on the entry of foreign capital and investments.