“A former Pharmally executive is seeking a congressional post.”
During the last quarter of 2021, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee started a probe on COVID-19 response supplies delivered by Pharmally to the government, which the senators claim, had been grossly overpriced. According to estimates, the supplies may have been overpriced by at least P5 billion.
Among those investigated was Pharmally’s financial manager Lin Weixiong, who is married to Rose Nono Lin, a congressional candidate in District 5 in Quezon City. Despite several “invitations” to the Senate hearing, Lin Weixiong never showed up. It was then Rose was summoned to the Senate hearing, she also being a former executive of Pharmally.
Rose also refused to attend the hearing, prompting the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to issue an arrest warrant against her. But citing health reasons and the need to undergo a surgery, the arrest warrant against Rose was suspended. Later on, Rose was also able to secure a temporary restraining order against the Senate in enforcing the arrest warrant against her.
Now, what’s new with Rose Nono Lin?
Last week, members of the Koalisyon Novalenyo Kontra Korapsyon and Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan ng Bagbag filed a complaint against Rose and several others for alleged vote buying activities “under the pretense of ‘ayuda’ (cash aid) or ‘scholarship.”
According to the group, “even before the filing of respondent Lin’s certificate of candidacy and beyond March 25, 2022, when the official local campaign period started, respondents undertook a concerted and coordinated scheme to buy votes of tens of thousands of Novaleños, and that even now, the vote buying scheme continues in one of the many headquarters.”
Aside from Rose, 16 others identified as the businesswoman’s close associates in Barangay Sta. Lucia and Barangay Novaliches Proper, some of whom were said to be barangay councilors, were included in the complaint.
The complainants alleged Lin’s team gives stubs to “selected” Quezon City voters, telling them to proceed to any of Lin’s three “headquarters” in Barangay San Bartolome for the supposed payout of ₱500 each.
To avail of the so-called ayuda, the complainants said, residents were asked to submit their personal details and a valid ID. Their photos are also supposedly taken for another ID to be issued. Afterwards, the voters who registered for the ayuda are asked to wait for hours while a video presentation about Rose Lin is played through a projector. Other times, they said Lin and other councilors were physically present to speak before the crowd.
After waiting, the complainants claimed the voters are told to enter a separate room, where the QR code located at the back of their issued ID will be scanned and thereafter, a small brown envelope containing 500 pesos will be handed to them. And reportedly, all those who have registered are given their daily dose of P500.
So, what’s the implication of this?
Rose Nono Lin is being investigated for a multi-billion peso overpricing by the Senate, which involves taxpayers’ money. And here she is allegedly giving out P500 to each voter who will register under her camp as if she is merely giving out campaign leaflets.
If indeed the allegations of overpricing in the Senate hearing and the complaint of this group are true, it is our hard-earned money she is indiscriminately giving out. Is this where our taxes are supposed to go? I don’t pay my taxes to be used for vote-buying as alleged by the Koalisyon Novalenyo Kontra Korapsyon and Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan ng Bagbag.
Imagine someone being investigated for possible involvement in a multi-billion plunder case being accused of vote-buying. What then can we expect from her in the event she gets elected to Congress?
We just hope Commission on Elections Commissioner George Garcia makes good his promise for the poll body to investigate the matter as soon as possible.
It’s either the poll body clears her or disqualifies her and brings her to court. If she is cleared of any wrongdoing, so be it. We have to respect the decision. But if she is found to be guilty, then spare us.