60 arrested in Makati for vote-buying

MANILA, Philippines — Out of the 84 individuals arrested for vote-buying around Metro Manila, 60 came from the city of Makati, Metro Manila police chief Guillermo Eleazar revealed on Sunday.

According to Eleazar, barangay officials were among the individuals arrested during police operations against vote-buying.

He also said that from the said tally, 8 were vote-buyers while 52 were vote-sellers.

What was alarming from the said operation, Eleazar said, was that the 60 individuals arrested for vote-buying came only from one barangay — Barangay Isidro.

“Nakakuha kami ng impormasyon, nung pinuntahan namin doon, ay talagang walang ilaw. Nasa taas lang ang ilaw,” Eleazar said in a Balitaan sa Maynila press conference.

“Pag nakita niyo sa taas, para siyang regular office na may A, B, C, D, may mga pangalan. Tapos andoon yung listahan. Kapag nakita mo yung listahan, andoon yung pangalan, precinct number, sino nagrefer sayo, at may pinipirmahan,” he added.

Eleazar also said that authorities seized a box containing 820 pieces of P500 bills totaling to P410,000 during the operation.

According to the information released by the authorities, the following are those arrested for alleged vote-buying: barangay treasurer Karen-May Matibag, barangay secretary Medlyn Joy Ong, barangay admin Marie Antoinette Capistrano, Wenifredo Ong, Mario Louis Siriban, Adrian Chiapoco, John Brian Matibag, and Ma. Liberty Dacullo.

Eleazar said that the cases of Karen-May Matibag, Medlyn Joy Ong, and Capistrano would be referred to the office of the Department of Interior and Local Government because under the law, intervention of public officers in elections is a violation.

When pressed who the politicians behind the vote buying incidents were, Eleazar said that the case would focus on the evidence seized inside the barangay hall.

However, he said that the leaflets were named after the “incumbent mayor.”

“It will be subjected for further investigation kasi wala naman siya doon nung nakita natin eh,” he said.

Aside from the city of Makati, 17 cases of vote buying were recorded in Muntinlupa, six in Quezon City, and one in Malabon.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote-buying and vote-selling are considered election offenses and are punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)