Siquijor politicians deny vote buying incidents
Vote buying has been the prominent complaints in Siquijor province, during the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, creating tensions between rival parties and allegedly with the involvement of politicians or incumbent government officials.
Senior Inspector Edgar Labe, chief of police of Larena town, said a commotion took place at the back of the Larena Municipal Hall building Friday evening when former Provincial Board member Claire Lucero and businessman Frances Roy Jimenez tried to document and stalk the activities of the barangay candidates.
These candidates were allegedly seen going in and out of the office of Mayor Dean Villa, and there were rumors of money distribution for use in the elections. Sources said their acts and gathering at the mayor's office were as suspicious as being unusual.
The commotion occurred when Mayor Villa allegedly throw water from his plastic cup into the face of Jimenez before the latter was about to leave the area.
The mayor and Siquijor Representative Ramon Antonio Vicente Rocamora were reportedly inside the Municipal Hall when the commotion happened, but both denied the allegation of vote-buying or distributing cash to the candidates and their supporters.
Police has been validating the rumored massive vote buying in almost all barangays of the province but it was however not proven; not even the claims that policemen were utilized as perimeter guards and lookouts during the alleged money distribution.
The mayor and the congressman later appeared at the Larena Police Station and explained that the commotion happened because Barangay Chairman Arnold Palahang of Catamboan reported to the two government officials that he was allegedly tailed by a van of Lucero and Jimenez.
Not only the mayor and the congressman were hit by controversial claims. Even Governor Zaldy Villa was accused of allegedly bankrolling the finances of the candidates of the administration.
Governor Villa, in an interview with The FREEMAN, denied the allegations insisting that he neither interfere nor involved in the elections. “We took heed of the law that barangay and SK elections are non-partisan. There is no truth to the allegations that I financed the candidates and distributed money to them.”
The governor said the Barangay and SK elections need not to be an issue. “Instead of making issues, let us unite for the development of our province,” he said.
Lazi town Mayor James Monte, on the other hand, took pride that vote buying did not happen in his town. “The order of President Rodrigo Duterte and words from Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño were clear: Not to buy votes. Parties from the administration and the opposition must follow,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the Siquijor Police Provincial Office, headed by Senior Superintendent Enrique Belciña, has been conducting spot checking of the alleged money distribution in five other towns of San Juan, Maria, Enrique Villanueva, Larena, and the capital of Siquijor, which has been the most popular in vote buying allegations.