SAN PEDRO CITY — The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Cavite on Monday filed charges against the supporters of former Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla.
Charged for violating the Omnibus Election Code, specifically for vote buying and selling, were Teresita Marjes, Irene Morales, Elsie Alano del Mundo, Jayson Alab, Rex del Rosario, Jose de Leon, Gregorio Tamio, Michael Omedes, Joselino Villa, and Jowel Sale.
CIDG officer in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon Col. Lawrence Cajipe said in a text message that the respondents underwent inquest proceedings at the Bacoor Provincial Prosecutor this morning.
Caught in the act
The respondents were “caught in the act” of distributing brown envelopes following a campaign rally of Jonvic in Bacoor City, said Cavite CIDG chief Lt. Col. Ricky Neron.
The envelopes turned out containing P200-bills that amounted to a total of P75,800. Another P83,500 was recovered, along with campaign wristbands and two shirts, which bore the names of Jonvic and his running mate for vice governor, Jolo Revilla.
Capitol employees
Neron said that as far as his office was concerned, this was the first case of “vote buying” apprehended in the province this election year.
Jonvic, in an earlier phone interview, denied they were buying votes but said that the money was intended as transportation allowance of their poll watchers for going to poll watching trainings within Cavite this week.
A CIDG official, who requested anonymity, said among those arrested were employees of the Cavite provincial capitol.
Cajipe said they are still looking into this report.
Sought for his comment, Remulla’s brother and incumbent governor Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla did not categorically confirm the involvement of government employees but pointed out that the “volunteers” were arrested on a Saturday, “a non-working day.”
“They were carrying out a legitimate political operation, that of recruiting watchers for our party for election day..(The arrest) also comes at a time the political temperature has risen to a point when accusations are thrown to us in a desperate attempt to derail our inevitable victory at the polls,” he said in a text message to the Inquirer.
The governor, who is now running for a seat in Congress, said their camp would provide legal assistance to the arrested volunteers. /je