Barangay and SK elections: Top cop confirms use of drug money

No less than Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Patrocinio Comendador has confirmed reports that drug money was used in Monday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Sr. Supt. Comendador said that there were candidates supported by known drug lords and he has already order his men to do background checks of those believed to have benefited from drug money.

Comendador however refused to reveal the names of these candidates and the position they have been elected to.

“Dili na ikawagtang nga posibilidad ang uban nakadaog pa gani,” Comendador said during an interview over radio station dyLA.

The confirmation made by Comendador was further bolstered by a complaint aired by losing re-electionist Lorega San Miguel barangay captain Fortunato Parawan.

ANOTHER ACCUSATION

Parawan has accused the winning candidate, Lorenzo Monsanto, to have benefited from drug money and said that many residents of the barangay can testify that indeed there was vote buying.

Parawan, a lawyer, alleged that known drug personalities in their barangay went around to solicit votes for his opponent in exchange for money.

Monsanto is currently the first councilman of the barangay.

When The Freeman tried to reach Monsanto and get his side, he was reportedly in the town of Liloan where he now lives and could not be contacted by phone as he does not have a mobile or a fixed line telephone.

A resident of Lorega San Miguel, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that voters were offered between P500 to P1,000.

   The same source revealed that the money was being distributed by a known illegal drug trader in their barangay.

“Massive kaayo pinalitay og boto diri pag-eleksyon,” he said. But he said he is not sure if the money was indeed from Monsanto because “he is not that rich” to give out such big amounts.

Parawan however said that due to the proclamation of winning candidates, he will already be constrained from filing a protest.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City North District election officer Marchel Sarno however said that Parawan can still file complaint in court five days after the proclamation.

Parawan used to be an ally of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, but was kicked out of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) for his failure to curb the illegal drugs trade and illegal gambling in Lorega San Miguel.

The mayor also closed the slaughterhouse in Lorega San Miguel and terminated the services the city extended to the barangay.

The complaint aired by Parawan comes a day after incumbent Carreta barangay captain Marciano Ando accused winning candidate Eduardo Lauron, Sr. of buying votes.

Ando has sought the help of Mayor Osmeña, who has asked a lawyer to study the complaint.

Osmeña also offered to give Ando legal assistance.

However in the case of Ando, he has evidence to prove his claim as he holds six sample ballots of Lauron with P500 bills stapled on each of them.

Lauron has vehemently denied the accusations and said that he and Ando used to be close friends until he decided to run for barangay captain.

Several other candidates have alleged massive vote-buying in their areas but could not show proof to prove their claims.

No Untoward Incidents

The Police Regional Office-7 and the Provincial Comelec have announced yesterday that Monday’s elections was a success with no untoward incidents that happened in spite of numerous complaints and allegations of cheating.

During the Talakayan Sa Isyung Polis (TSIP) hosted by the Public Information Agency held at the 19th floor of Club Ultima yesterday, PR07 director, Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos announced that the police in the region have done well in their jobs.

   Provincial Comelec Supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano told reporters there was no “failure of elections” declared in any area in the region.

The police have sent several task groups backed by members of the 78th Infantry Battalion to various areas including the more than 40 barangays classified as Election Areas of Immediate Concern in the mid-northern Cebu.

There were reports of harassment allegedly perpetrated by masked armed men in Tudela, but Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, director of the provincial police office said they are still trying to identify the perpetrators whom they believe are not from the town.

Dirty Politics

Castillano said that he is alarmed by reports that some SK candidates engaged into ‘dirty politics’ by buying votes.

Castillano said, he heard complaints and reports of rampant vote-buying allegedly perpetrated by some SK candidates that reached as much as P3,000 per voter.

The authorities could not however act on such complaints as callers would only identify themselves as ‘concerned citizens’ and there is no formal complaint filed.

 “Reports lang ang akong nadawat, mao nay akong hangyo unta nila nga kung mahimo mo-file gyud og formal complaints kaysa itawag lang sa teleponong moingon lang og concerned citizen, unya og among respondehan pag-adto didto naa man sa sulod sa private place. Kanang ingon ana ba nga bati kaayo 15-17 anyos nagsugod na og buhat og binuang sa politika,” Castillano said.

He said that for a complaint to prosper, the complainants must report the incident to the police and file formal complaint before the Comelec office or the Prosecutors Office.—with Edwin Ian Melecio