By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
A LAWYER who has set her eyes on the congressional seat that would be vacated by mayoral aspirant Rep. Rufus Rodriguez next year frowned over the recent convention of the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) here, and criticized the group for allegedly herding people to the Nazareth gym with a promise of livelihood aid and money.
Lawyer Evangeline Carrasco, who would run for congresswoman in the city’s 2nd District, alleged that Rep. Rodriguez engaged in “hakot” during the Oct. 3 CDP convention.
Rodriguez denied Carrasco’s assertion, saying a crowd of about 3,600 people attended the convention without expecting anything in return.
Rodriguez called Carrasco’s claim a part of a black propaganda against him because his opponents were afraid of his candidacy.
Carrasco, who earlier announced she would run for congresswoman in the city’s 2nd District, said she learned of the alleged herding of convention participants from her urban poor-based political leaders who went to the Nazareth covered court supposedly because they were promised livelihood projects and funds from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Carrasco also alleged that CDP convention organizers also gave participants money.
Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., who would seek reelection under Rodriguez’s ticket, said Carrasco was fed incorrect information.
“Ila gyud tong kaugalingon nga kabobot-on nga mo-adto sila sa convention. Wala to sila gihakot,” said Lao, adding that Rodriguez never gave anyone money just to attend the political gathering.
On the contrary, Lao said, CDP members paid P1 thousand each as their annual contribution to the party.
“Dili si Congressman Rufus ma-oy mohatag ug kuwarta, ang mga membro sa CDP ang mohatag,” Lao said.
Lao said the CDP has 470 members in the city’s 2nd District, and another 170 in the 1st District, and they paid P1,000 each.
He said some 1,417 from the 2nd District and 1,200 from the 1st District who attended the convention were volunteers and non-members of the CDP, and so, they were not asked by Rodriguez to pay.
“Ayha ra ni sila ibagbayad sa yearly contribution nga tag P1,000 kon mamembro na ni sila sa CDP,” Lao explained.
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