BAGUIO CITY — The son of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) head is facing accusations for allegedly violating election rules.
Gilbert Estrella, who is running for a congressional seat in the 6th district of Pangasinan, is the son of DAR chief Conrado Estrella III. He is being accused of flagrantly using government aid payouts.
At least 35 postings allegedly found on congressional candidate Gilbert Estrella’s official social media account showed that government programs such as Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), both programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), a project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), were being used in his campaign sorties. The social media postings included captions referring to these programs, along with the DSWD logo in one of the posts.
Several other similar links, like AICS in Tayug, TUPAD in San Nicolas, and AKAP in San Manuel, showed the same.
Former San Nicolas, Pangasinan Mayor Leoncio Saldivar claimed over Facebook Live that Estrella had coordinated with DSWD for fund replenishment in case AKAP funds ran short. Saldivar also stated that Estrella had spoken with Secretary Rex Gatchalian about replenishing the funds if they were exhausted.
The congressional candidate also reportedly used his influence to facilitate the immediate release of government aid in other municipalities of the 6th congressional district, including Asingan, Balungao, San Nicolas, Natividad, Rosales, Umingan, San Manuel, San Quintin, and Santa Maria towns.
Social media posts by Estrella also created the impression that government assistance programs, via cash payouts, were his solicitation efforts.
Estrella is currently not holding any office in government.
Aside from Comelec guidelines on government aid prohibiting candidates’ presence during aid distributions, the Omnibus Election Code Section 261 (o) also prohibits using public funds or government resources for election campaigns.