Remulla supporters nabbed for ‘vote buying’ freed

SAN PEDRO CITY — Former Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla called it “either political harassment or incompetence” of the police when they arrested 10 of his supporters for alleged vote-buying.

Col. Lawrence Cajipe, Calabarzon officer of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said on Wednesday that the arrested persons, among them reportedly employees of the provincial government, were released on Tuesday.

Cajipe, in a text message, said the case was referred “for further investigation” by the Bacoor City prosecutor’s office.

The CIDG arrested Remulla’s supporters “caught in the act” of distributing brown envelopes shortly after a campaign rally in Bacoor over the weekend.

It turned out that the envelopes contained P200-bills. The total money inside the envelopes amounted to P75,800.

Another P83,500 was seized, along with campaign wristbands and two shirts, which bore the names of Remulla and Jolo Revilla, his running mate.

Remulla, however, denied they were buying votes but the money was his supporters’ transportation and training allowances.

Remulla is seeking a comeback as governor against another former Cavite governor Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi.

In a statement Tuesday, Remulla said there was not enough evidence as the complainants failed to execute an affidavit to support charges of vote-buying.

“(This) doesn’t derail my campaign. I wish everyone would play fair,” he added.