By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr..
QUEZON CITY — A witness on the alleged vote buying case against former Quezon City (4th District) Rep. Bong Suntay on Friday (April 11) turned the table on the lawyer and a supporter of Rep. Marvin Rillo.
The alleged vote buying activities committed by Suntay against Quezon City (4th District) Rep. Rillo were presented in a press conference at Kamuning Bakery Cafe last Tuesday (April 8).
The witnesses themselves held placards stating “say no to vote buying” and “say no to ako at ang walo” against Suntay.
It was an alleged “networking scheme” through the so-called “Ako at Walo” to gather eight other voters and so forth and so on where the recent “pay outs” were allegedly made last February, March 28, April 1, and April 2, who were given either P500 or P1,000.
The witnesses claimed that they were made to attend an orientation about the “Ako at Walo” scheme in October 2024 in Barangay Pinagkaisahan, Quezon City, after which, they were handed an envelope containing P1,000.
Janno Orate said during Tuesday’s press conference that they are against corruption in Quezon City and they would not like the reputation of the city to be destroyed, specifically in the Fourth District of Quezon City.
They declared that they are fighting against corruption in Quezon City and they are fighting for the people of Quezon City.
Atty. Jess Falcis cited the vote buying case against Bingbong Crisologo and Mike Defensor where the Supreme Court ruled that “If there’s no witness”, there’s no case.
Atty. Falcis said that they have filed the complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
He added that they hoped the Comelec will take action.
In a separate video shown on Fruday, a witness who preferred not to be unidentified, testified that the group of Suntay was allegedly destroying the image and integrity of Rep. Rillo in the Fourth District of Quezon City.
In a press conference at EDSA Eats by Max’s Group on Friday (April 11), Malou Chua, a volunteer for Suntay, said that she was one of those who were calling out against the malpractices of Rep. Rillo.
Chua narrated that Kevin “Angel” Roissing was very panicky and very angry against Atty. Falcis for uploading the incriminating video against him.
Kagawad Marissa Roissing is the sister of Kevin. Kevin claimed that he was made to hide in Mabuhay Street in Barangay Central, Quezon City.
In a video message, Kevin alias “Angel”, said that he was one of the social media handlers of Rep. Rillo, together with a certain Kagawad Poleng, Michaelangelo and Atty. Falcis, and he was told to say the script on allegations against Rep. Bong Suntay.
Kevin added that there was no agreement that he would sign an affidavit against Suntay.
According to Kevin, Atty. Falcis named him “Angel” and not “Malou Wang” and that he would not talk during the presscon.
Kevin was not allowed to go out of the press conference at Kamuning Bakery last Tuesday and made it appear that there was an assassin out to kill him.
He was escorted out of the Kamuning Bakery and brought to Go Hotel in Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City for his safety and security.
He claimed that Atty. Falcis gave him P50,000 for his personal expenses, but he did not like a security who could be the one to kill him.
Kevin talked against Malou Chua because his sister allegedly will be killed by them.
The video allegedly with scripts against Rep. Rillo was shown Thursday night.
He asked the script against Rep. Rillo to be edited as it was untrue.
Kevin also claimed that Atty. Falcis made threats to his life and for him, Suntay will still win in the May 12 elections.
According to him, ABS-CBN would not air the presscon of Atty. Falcis last Tuesday until the Comelec has ruled on the case of vote buying against Rep. Rillo, which made Atty. Falcis very angry.
Kevin stressed that if something bad happens to him, the only people who have the motive against him are Atty. Falcis and Orate.
Atty. Spocky Farolan said that he is helping the witness as the most important person of the day known as Ms. Abba who can be a witness in the disqualification case against Suntay in the grounds of vote buying through the “Ako at Walo”.
The witness was called “Ms. Angel” or Ms. Abba sent feelers that she has a statement that her allegations against Suntay were just made to appear as true.
The complaint is now part of the disqualification case against Cong. Bong Suntay before the Comelec Law Department.
Abba said that he did not personally talk with Orate.
He added that Michaelangelo handles the social media of Rep. Marvin Rillo.
Abba said that he was frightened by the word “to silence” his sister. He was made to pin down Suntay.
He was told that all the things made by Malou Chua had the blessings of Rillo.
Abba was initially given P10,000 and later on it became P50,000.
He could not memorize the script that was being fed to him and the video that surfaced was scripted by Michaelangelo the head of social media, in order to pin down Suntay, which became viral in the social media.
Abba was allegedly made with an affidavit through his conversation with Atty. Jesus Falcis.
The disqualification case through vote buying through “Ako Walo” was concocted against Suntay and the form was not from Abba but was furnished to make it appear as true.
He claimed that he was only used as an instrument for fear of his life and his sister.
Kevin did not present a video showing that he received money during a caucus in Barangay Pinagkaisahan.
He was billeted in Go Hotel in Timog Avenue from April 8-9 because of the alleged death threats coming from Suntay.
Kevin was monitored as having escaped from a safe house but it was not true.
He was given P50,000 to hide and was used as a star witness.
He had no choice as he was cornered.
Kevin claimed that he was also offered a sex reassignment surgery (SRS), but could not be materialized because of the money ban in the Comelec.
According to him, Atty. Falcis threatened his life if he would not turn against Rillo.
He admitted that he is a political host and was ordered to turn the allegations against Suntay in favor of Rillo.
He was guarded when he was making chats in the group chat made against Rillo and they wanted to pin down Suntay.
He added that Suntay did not give him any amount and he was bothered by his conscience and he had sleepless nights.
Kevin would like Atty. Falcis to be disbarred.
Atty. Farolan said that the sworn statement of M. Abba with USB flask disk of a video of what really happened, if anything happens to him, was filed with the Comelec Law Department.
They went with Kagawad Marissa to file an official blotter in the police Station 10 on Thursday afternoon.
As the lawyer of Malou Chua and Marissa, they were ordered to set aside politics and secure first Ms. Abba and his family as they are supporters of Suntay.
Rep. Marvin Rillo has filed a case against Malou Chua and Janno Orate also has a case filed against Suntay.
To protect a person, Atty. Farolan said, everything must be revealed to the public.
They wanted the Comelec to intervene in all the allegations such that the allegations made by the group of Orate may have affected the integrity and sanctity of the electoral process.
They still have to study and scrutinize all the allegations of Ms. Abba.
In the video, Farolan said, other officials and even the higgest city official were mentioned.
Farolan added that it’s time bound until elections but if evil is still existing after elections, it will be beyond elections.
He stressed that if the sanctity of the electoral process is jeopardized, the best and effective steps will be undertaken.
Farolan said that Cong. Bong Suntay has no personal issue against Cong. Marvin Rillo.
He added that Cong. Rillo defeated Suntay during the 2022 elections and the latter did not take it personally against the former.
Farolan stressed that Rillo is a successful businessman and Suntay even continued his programs and projects for the benefit of the residents of the Fourth District of Quezon City.
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