Cops arrest 136 in Metro Manila for buying, selling votes

Vote buying incident at Barangay Old Zaniga, Mandaluyong City, the evidence are now at the custody of Police Community Precinct at Barangay Hulo. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has arrested a total of 136 persons for allegedly buying and selling votes in different parts of Metro Manila for the midterm elections.

The NCRPO reported on Wednesday that 84 of those arrested were alleged vote buyers while 52 are vote sellers. According to the NCRPO, the arrests were made from May 11 to 14, 2019.

Meanwhile, 411 were also arrested for violating the liquor ban, and another 1,158 were nabbed for violating the election gun ban since the start of the election period on January 13 and until May 14.

A total of 663 firearms were also seized by the NCRPO in over 39,000 checkpoints and other police operations during the period.

According to the NCRPO, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections in Metro Manila, it deployed 16,000 police officers to secure 723 polling centers across the metropolis.

Overall, the NCRPO praised the “generally peaceful” elections in Metro Manila.

“I would like to express my gratitude to our policemen, the AFP, other security agencies and volunteers for their vigilance during the election period. Our collaborative efforts and sacrifices contributed to the success of the midterm election,” NCRPO director Major General Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

RELATED STORIES

DILG to public: Continue to report vote-buying even if election is over

PNP: 441 arrested across Philippines for alleged vote buying