Votes sold for as low as 120 – Comelec
Desperation may have led some candidates into buying votes for as low as 120 with barely a day to go before the 2019 midterm elections, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.
Comelec Education and Information Director Frances Arabe said some candidates, mostly in the provinces, were monitored buying votes for as low as 120 to P50 on Sunday.
“Reports from anonymous sources reached us that there are candidates allegedly buying votes for 120 to 150. The money is attached on the flyers as they go house to house mostly in the provinces,” Arabe told the Manila Bulletin.
Arabe said he expects vote-buying activities to intensify until Election Day.
“Although it is now as low as 120, it can even go to higher amounts. We expect a lot more. The number of vote-buying activities today until tonight and even hanggang sa pagpasok ng mga botante sa polling precinct ay dadami,” Arabe said.
Arabe said the reports they received contained only pictures of the flyers with the attached bill. Although it was sent through social media, the complainant was not identified, making the filing of cases against the erring candidates unsuccessful.
One of the reported cases was from Tacloban City while the others were believed to be outside Manila.
The Philippine National Police is looking into the cases, Arabe added.
Votes for sale
At least 84 people have been arrested for vote-buying as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has stepped up the campaign not only against voter-buyers but also those who sell their votes on the eve of Monday’s midterm elections.
NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said most of those arrested were in Makati City where eight vote-buyers and 52 voters allegedly seeking money for their votes were collared right inside the barangay hall of Barangay San Isidro in Makati City.
“Three of the eight voters arrested are barangay officials. We will refer this to the Commission on Elections and the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” said Eleazar.
He identified the three barangay officials as Karen May Matibag, 36, barangay treasurer; Medlyn Joy Ong, 40, barangay secretary; Marie Antoinette Capistrano, and administrative staff of the barangay.
The five others were Wenifredo Ong, Jr 37; Mario Louis Siriban, 32; Adrian Chiapoco, 30; John Brian Matibag, 30; and Ma. Liberty Dacullo, 33.
Eleazar said the operation stemmed from the information they received about the gathering of barangay officials and a number of people converging at the barangay hall of Barangay San Isidro late Saturday night.
Policemen then swooped down on the area and chanced upon what they described as vote-buying activities.
Seized were 820 pieces of 500-peso bills worth 1410,000; 19 assorted identification cards; 10 different units of cellular phone; list of voters with their address and precinct numbers; and two boxes of Ulat sa Bayan Leaflets of a candidate for mayor.
Eleazar said 17 others were arrested in Muntinlupa City, one in Malabon, and six in Quezon City.
Appropriate criminal charges will be filed against the suspects while additional complaints will be filed against the public officials.
Also arrested were suspected votebuyers Dominador Bueno, 63; Luis Aragana Jr., 64; Alma Comora, 42; Genevebe Tabason, 42; and Leilani Datinguinoo, 46.
Police arrested 12 registered voters who are all residents of Barangay Putatan for alleged vote-selling.
Police confiscated from the suspects 17 pieces of envelopes each containing 1500; 122 pieces of envelopes each containing 1300; a list of voters with their addresses and precinct numbers; sample ballots; and details of cash distribution.
Aside from the 77 arrested suspects in Makati and Munitnlupa, the police have also arrested six suspected vote-buyers in Quezon City and another one in Malabon City earlier this week.
Eleazar said he gave a warning to all police commanders in the metro to strictly monitor reports of vote-buying and selling.
Data from the PNP-National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) said 147 suspected vote-buyers and sellers have already been apprehended nationwide from the start of the election period on January 13 to 12 a.m. Sunday.
No vote-buying in Daraga
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Despite posts on social media and outcry on alleged rampant vote buying in the province, the Albay Police Provincial Office (PPO) said that there was no reported arrested persons involved in vote-buying.
Police Corporal Charmie Mayores, Albay PPO assistant information officer disclosed that as of Sunday, May 12, there was no reported from different police stations in the province about arrested person involved in vote buying since the campaign period for 2019 midterm poll started last March.
Do’s and don’ts
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) once again reminded voters on the “dos” and “don’ts” when they cast their votes during the May 13 midterm elections.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon urged voters to arrive at their respective polling precincts early. “Mga botante na aabutan ng alas-6 ng gabi bukas sa pila, papayagan pa rin bumoto kapag nasa loob ng 30 meters,” she explained.
Guanzon also reminded the voters not to take videos and photos while inside their respective polling precincts. Taking photos and videos of the ballots, she added, is also strictly prohibited. “Bawal ang kumuha ng video at litrato sa loob ng polling precinct at bawal din kuhanan ng litrato ang balota,” she explained. Those who will be caught taking photos and videos of illegal activities, she said, might face imprisonment.
Guanzon clarified that journalists and media practitioners are allowed to take photos and videos as long as they are outside the polling precincts.
Guanzon also assured that the Comelec will look into the Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCE) of the candidates. “[Ang] mga mahuhuling nandadaya ng kanilang SOCE, maaring ma-disqualify kahit manalo sa eleksiyon,” she added. (With Niño N. Luces)