Remullas accuse rival Maliksi of vote-buying

IMUS CITY — Faced with disqualification over alleged vote-buying in Cavite, it’s now the turn of former governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla to charge his rival, former governor Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi, with the same election offense.

In a press conference here Thursday afternoon, Jonvic with his brother and incumbent Cavite governor Jesus Crispin “Boying” and reelectionist vice governor Jolo Revilla said they have witnesses to an incident of vote-buying carried out by Maliksi’s camp.

Maliksi, who is running under the Liberal Party, has denied this.

The incident happened in a campaign rally on  May 6 in Barangay (village) Pag-asa, here.

According to Boying, Maliksi’s staff distributed P500 to voters with the former governor himself “watching over after (Maliksi) spoke.”

Police inaction

The difference, as the Remullas pointed out, was that the Cavite police refused to act and arrest the vote buyers even if it had been reported to the authorities as it happened, Boying said.

Maliksi brushed off the allegation when the Inquirer sought his comment. “Susmaryosep. They’re the ones in position with all the resources. They’ve been giving away (money) from day 1, ask every Caviteño,” he said.

On Saturday, the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested ten of the  Remullas’ supporters who were caught with brown envelopes that each contained P200 in a campaign rally in Bacoor City.

Among the ten were “coterminous” employees of the provincial capital, Boying said.

Jonvic said the money was intended for transportation and training allowances of their watchers.

‘False’ case

The incident became the basis of a disqualification case filed by a Cavite voter against Jonvic, who is running under the Nacionalista Party.

Boying said he wanted to discuss the alleged inaction of the Cavite police to regional police director Gen. Edward Carranza.

The Remullas added that they were considering filing a complaint against Maliksi in the Commission on Elections.

“What they’re spreading is a false complaint, wrong complaint,” Jonvic said, referring to the disqualification complaint. /lzb