Alegria candidate, workers face raps for “vote buying”

CEBU, Philippines - The mayoral candidate in Alegria, southern Cebu under the One Cebu Party and some municipal employees are facing criminal charges before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for an alleged election offense.

Alexander Listones, a registered voter of Alegria, filed a complaint for an election offense of “vote buying, conspiracy to bribe voters and electioneering or intervention of public officers and employees” against mayoral candidate and incumbent councilor Raul Guisadio and 23 others.

Incumbent Mayor Emelita Guisadio, the wife of Raul, said they will not comment on the issue unless they receive a copy of the complaint.

In his complaint, Listones alleged that some of the respondents offered to buy the votes of the people.

“Some of the respondents likewise offered to buy the votes of voters with free fertilizers and herbicides… agreed to vote for Guisadio, his partymates and his party-One Cebu Party,” he said. He added that the respondents also buy the votes of the people in exchange of free installation of “illegal electric power connection.”

Named respondents were Noel Largado, Jerry Glova, Bill Durangparang, Edbhel Sabinay, Margarito Manjac, Victor Baisac, Eric Peque, Wilfredo Lastimosa, Josue Lendio and Francisco Leguiz Jr., all municipal employees; Joseph Lobiano barangay employee of Poblacion; Flora Amatril, barangay chairwoman of Valencia and Romeo Jamio, barangay councilman of Valencia.

Other named respondents were Leonor Quintinita, Apolinaria Quintinita, Crispo Baylosis, Petra Baylosis, Eligio Lopez, Bonifacio Glinogo, Concesa Dialogo, Alejandro Villeneza, Nolito Delostrico and Agustin Jamio, who allegedly committed the election offense of conspiracy to bribe voters.

Miguel Lendio, a resident of Alegria, executed a judicial affidavit saying he knew Largado, Glova, Durangparang, Josue Lendio, Amatril and Jamio being municipal employees who are prohibited from campaigning for any candidate during election. He alleged that the municipal employees were campaigning for Guisadio and the whole One Cebu Party.

Miguel alleged that some of the respondents went to the houses near the Birhen Delos Remedios Chapel in Alegria and asked whether they want power connection, to which  they answered in affirmative.  â€”/JPM (FREEMAN)