Candidate asks poll body to investigate mayor, 8 others

Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura and eight individuals in Barangay Poblacion I may have to answer the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over allegations of vote-buying.

Dr. Loufel Aleonar, 41, a candidate for village chief of Barangay Poblacion I, Carcar City, accused Apura and eight others of violating the Omnibus Election Code.

The respondents, he said, conspired to give P300 per voter last May 11.

He asked the Comelec, starting with Carcar Election Officer Chauncey Boholst, to investigate Apura and the other officials for alleged vote-buying. Apart from Aleonar, the other complainants are Julius Sarmiento, Edsel Padin, Leo Alfara, Elmer Padin, Salvador Apil, and Leonila Cinco-Sato.

Named respondents to the case were Apura and Poblacion 1, Barangay Councilor Baltazar Rojo, and council candidates Nestor Bargayo, Ekoy Emnace, Falax Cuizon, Nestor Bargayo, Lucky Varga, Cecil Barawigan, and Eva Alicaba.

Aleonar and Rojo both ran for barangay captain of Poblacion 1. (The results were not available as of press time.)

In his affidavit, Aleonar said he received information last May 11 about vote-buying in Sitio Maximina.

He and his supporters rushed to the area and caught Mayor Apura and the respondents giving P300 to voters and a leaflet containing the names of candidates endorsed by the mayor.

He took a video of the incident using his smartphone.

When he confronted Mayor Apura, Aleonar said, the mayor “unabashedly admitted” the vote-buying.

Aleonar reported the incident to the Carcar police station. He also shared the video on his Facebook page.

Various Comelec officials have urged the public, not just candidates, to file complaints if they have proof of vote-buying, in order for the practice to be curbed. Even the giving of free rides, food and “things of value” is prohibited on the day before and on Election Day itself.