MALASIQUI – Pangasinan Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino has denied charges that national and provincial officials paid barangay captains in order to force them to gather signatures from the people seeking amendments to the constitution.

Speaking soon after the conduct of barangay assembles Saturday and Sunday, Lambino said the barangay officials are involved simply because somebody has to supervise to see to it that the signatures are authentic and forged.

This is necessary because these signatures will have to pass the Commission on Elections for it to verify whether these signatures are authentic or not.

“This was not a moro-moro. This was the true initiative of the people and, of course, with the help of local leaders,” he said.

Explaining the barangay assemblies, the vice governor said there is nothing wrong with these because after all it is the people’s initiative that they were doing so that the issues will be clearly explained to the people.

“We want the people to be aware so that they will be empowered to make the right decision when the time comes,” he said.

This is because, he added the amendment will have to go through a plebiscite in which the people will be the final judge.