Presidential candidate and son of the late dictator Bongbong Marcos can’t say how much they have spent so far for the 2022 elections.
Marcos was asked about campaign spending during the presidential debate of SMNI network, the media outfit of FBI most wanted Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The SMNI debate was so far the only event attended by Marcos with his fellow presidential candidates.
Marcos said that he cannot remember how much they have spent so far since most of their activities were organized by volunteers and donations were in-kind.
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“Unang-una, hindi namin ililista ang mga donasyon dahil karamihan diyan in-kind eh, kagaya ng mga caravan na ginagawa namin, kami ay iniimbita lamang ng mga organizer diyan at kaya’t pinagsasabihan [namin] huwag nang pahabain o huwag na gagawin ito o gawin na lang natin magtanim ng kahoy, ang sinasabi, ‘gusto pa rin namin mag-caravan.’ Hindi naman namin napigil kaya wala kaming gastos doon,” Marcos said.
“Sa awa ng Diyos e marami pa naman tayong kaibigan na handang tumulong na handang magpahiram ng kanilang mga eroplano, ng kanilang mga helicopter, at gratis et amore naman ang aming usapan diyan,” he added.
Marcos also could not provide an estimate of their campaign spending during that time.
“No, I cannot ’cause I’m not following it, hindi ko sinusundan dahil unang una, wala kaming accounting before February 8 at since February 8, that date is still not available. Kaya hindi namin binubuo ‘yan, ang aming binabantayan yung gastusin mula noong February 8,” he said.
February 8 was the official start of the campaign period.
“Kaya hindi namin inililista pa dahil hindi naman kailangan pa na isama doon sa tinatawag na SOCE or gastos sa eleksyon, magsisimula lang po yan kung saan yung gastos magmula noong February 8 hanggang sa pagdating ng halalan,” he added.
Presidential candidate and former defense chief Norberto Nograles reacted to Marcos’ statement.
“Naa-amuse lang ako, kasi kitang kita ang laki ng ginagastos,” he said.
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Labor leader Leody De Guzman meanwhile proposed that the government should spend for the campaign of the candidates.
“Kapag ang indibidwal ang gagastos talagang ang eleksyon sa Pilipinas ay magiging eleksyon lamang ng mga bilyonaryo o kung hindi naman, mga kandidato ng sikat na susuportahan ng mga bilyonaryong korporasyon,” he said.
“Imposibleng ako ang may pinakamalaking ginastos dito, pero tiyak ako na wala pa doon sa minimum. ‘Di ko kaya P350,000 billboard sa EDSA ng isang buwan, hindi ko kaya P800,000 na isang labas na TV ads na 15 seconds, at di ko kayang gumastos ng poster sa baybay daan. May kaya lang niyan bilyonaryo at milyonaryo at supporter ng big business sa ating bansa,” De Guzman added.
Gonzales agreed with the remarks of the presidential candidate.
“Alam naman natin hindi pa nagsisimula ang kampanya bilyon na ang naubos ng ibang mga kandidato, tanggapin natin yan huwag natin ilihim,” Gonzales said.
