Authorities arrest 8 ‘vote-buying’ suspects in Makati City

MANILA, Philippines— Eight people allegedly involved in vote-buying in Makati City were arrested by the authorities on Sunday.

A report from The STAR said the suspects were arrested at the Barangay Hall of San Isidro, Makati City.

The authorities reportedly confiscated 820 pieces of P500 bills amounting to P410,000,19 identification cards and two boxes of leaflets. 

Eight people who were allegedly engaging in vote-buying were arrested at the Barangay Hall of San Isidro, Makati City on Sunday. Seized from the suspects were 820 pieces of P500 bills amounting to P410,000 and leaflets of Mayor Abigail Binay. #BilangPilipino2019 | via Ghio Ong pic.twitter.com/35lryDWMU9

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 12, 2019

Mayor Binay has yet to issue a statement.

Also on Sunday, a National Bureau of Investigation-Commission on Elections monitoring team seized evidence of alleged vote buying in Aguilar, Pangasinan.

Last week, at least 10 people with the re-election campaign of Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla were arrested for alleged vote buying. He said that they were actually poll watchers "in the process of distributing their travel allowance for next [week’s] training."

Watch joint NBI-Comelec Pangasinan Monitoring Team seize pieces of evidence in Brgy. Buer, Aguilar for alleged vote buying by a group of candidates. #BilangPilipino2019 | @EvaVisperas Visperas pic.twitter.com/s4RJPbNBz0

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 12, 2019

On Wednesday, the Commission on Elections activated its multisectoral Kontra Bigay Task Force to prosecute those buying and selling votes.

The Comelec earlier warned candidates proven to be engaged in vote buying may be fined, jailed and disqualified from holding public office for committing this election office. The person who sold their vote may also face the same punishment.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez on Sunday urged the public to report vote-buying and vote-selling operations online using hashtags #SumbongSACOMELEC and #TFKontraBigay. Complainants may also raise their concerns to the 24-hour voter care hotline.

Sa mga nakakakita ng vote buying/ vote selling operations, pwede nyo i #SumbongSaCOMELEC at sa #TFKontraBigay, sa pamamagitan ng social media, o sa mga sumusunod na numero: #VoterEd #NLE2019 pic.twitter.com/GBYhy6pihQ

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) May 12, 2019

Election watchdog National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections earlier said it confirmed reports of widespread vote buying.

Comelec Chair Sheriff Abas and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde likewise said the poll body and the police received numerous reports of vote buying in the past few weeks.

An estimated 61 million Filipinos are slated to vote for the midterm elections on Monday. –Rosette Adel with reports from The STAR/Ghio Ong

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