3 radio stations ordered to submit Syjuco's 'blocktime' contracts
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is going to look into the spending of reelectionist Rep. Judy Syjuco for her blocktime radio programs.
The Comelec issued an order yesterday requiring radio stations here to furnish the poll body with copies of the contracts entered into by Syjuco regarding the blocktime programs following the filing of a complaint for disqualification and/or nullification of proclamation against the lawmaker.
Concurrent provincial and city election supervisor, lawyer Elizabeth Doronila issued the subpoenae duces tecum addressed to Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo, Radio Mindanao Network and Bombo Radyo-Iloilo requiring the three stations to furnish them with contracts and the broadcast logs of blocktime programs of Syjuco.
The subpoena follows the filing of a complaint by lawyer Alex Espino against Syjuco Friday last week. Espino is the political strategist of Syjuco and her husband, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general, Augusto Syjuco.
During yesterday's hearing, Espino asked for the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum to each of the three radio stations.
Espino alleged that Syjuco exceeded the amount allowed by law for campaign expenses.
He calculated that Syjuco can only spend about P450,000, or P3 for each of the district's estimated 150, 000 voters.
Espino said that Syjuco spent P645,000, P360,000 and P160,000 for her radio blocktime programs in RMN, Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo, and Bombo Radyo-Iloilo, respectively, adding that it was he who negotiated for these contracts before he broke off ties with the Syjucos weeks ago.
"The blocktime radio programs alone exceed the allowable limits for campaign spending. How much more if you were to include those spent for the flyers and the posters," he observed.
In her answer, Syjuco contended that she and her party, the Lakas-CMD, is allowed to spend at least P3 and P5 respectively for each of the district's 152, 554 voters, as provided under section 13 of Republic Act 7166. Therefore, she can spend up to P1, 220, 352 at P8 per voter, her counsel, lawyer Joviel Edama argued.
Doronila said that the Comelec en banc will decide on the disqualification and/or nullification of proclamation after she shall have forwarded the complaint, the answer and the evidence of the parties.