A complaint for alleged violation of campaign rules, misuse of public funds, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) has been filed against Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The allegations were contained in a four-page anonymous letter signed only by “a concerned citizen” with copies delivered to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia and the commissioners of the poll body.
Luistro, in a short video posted on her official Facebook page, laughed off the charges and called on her supporters to “chill” because the complaint has no leg to stand on.
She said the anonymous letter was an obvious political propaganda from her political opponents.
“Relax lang po. Chill. Kayang kaya natin ‘yan. (Relax. Chill. We can handle this). It is just part of the massive demolition job that is being plotted by our enemies. They aren’t happy with all the falsehoods they are spreading. Now they are even wasting their time filing a case without any basis,” said the lawmaker, a former government prosecutor.
Luistro said that she was confident that the Ombudsman would see through the complaint as a tool for harassment and throw it out.
“If you read the complaint, it was totally unfounded. There are no details, no evidence was presented. It warrants outright dismissal,” Luistro added.
According to the unnamed complainant, the lawmaker has been using various government aid programs to boost her bid for re-election as representative of the second legislative district of Batangas.
Among the programs mentioned were the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad), and Ayuda sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP).
“Across multiple events and occasions, Rep. Luistro has staged and branded government assistance distribution with her name, image, and political messaging conditioning the minds of beneficiaries that their continued access to public aid is tied to her re-election,” the complainant said.
The complainant asked the Ombudsman to conduct an investigation and, in the meantime, to place her under preventive suspension.
The Office of the Ombudsman has not issued a statement on the complaint.
