Rice, eggs also used to buy votes, PNP says

ASIDE from cash amounting to over P12 million, authorities also confiscated several sacks of rice and trays of eggs that were allegedly intended for vote-buying during the recently concluded elections.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said they seized a total of P12,208,958 cash, 62 sacks of rice and 22 trays of eggs from January 13 until May 14.

He said 50 sacks of rice were confiscated in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The rest were from Soccsksargen. The trays of eggs, meanwhile, were seized in Calabarzon.

Albayalde said the PNP arrested a total of 365 persons who were implicated in 225 reported incidents of vote-buying or selling.

He said the communities played a vital role in the detection of these illegal acts.

“We thank the public for engaging our call to actively report vote buying and selling

incidents which was a big help and gained for the PNP positive public response in the light of our effort against these illegal act,” the PNP chief said.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac earlier said that charges have been filed against the 365 arrested suspects.

Albayalde noted that it was only this 2019 midterm elections that the PNP beefed up its operations against vote-buying and selling.

He assured that the PNP will continue to develop their capability in detecting vote-buying activities in future elections. (SunStar Philippines)