Woman held for alleged vote buying in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities raided a warehouse in Barangay San Jose, Navotas City on Wednesday and arrested a woman for alleged vote buying.

The suspect, identified only as Maribel, of Barangay Tugatog, was allegedly caught in the act of distributing envelopes containing up to P500 to at least 200 registered voters in Barangay Longos.

The operation was conducted by the police and personnel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Police said the suspect organized a seminar for supposed watchers in the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

The operation stemmed from a complaint by a resident who alleged that the suspect was buying votes for a candidate for barangay chairman.

Police said they confiscated P363,900 in cash and a computer laptop from the suspect.

Probers also recovered a list of registered voters, with their contact numbers, designated polling precincts and photocopies of identification cards.

Navotas police chief Col. Mario Cortes told The STAR that a candidate for chairman of Barangay Longos was behind the vote buying. Cortes did not name the BSKE bet.