A suspected vote buyer in Aklan was caught in the act of distributing envelopes containing cash and sample ballots on the eve of the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
“Sa Aklan kagabi (Sunday night), nagkaroon ng pagkilos ang mga local authorities para manmanan ang magaganap na vote buying. Nakaalerto sila, nahuli nila ang vote buyer,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez on Monday.
According to Jimenez, the suspected vote buyer was caught carrying a satchel containing more than ten envelopes containing sample ballots with at least P3,000 cash.
However, Jimenez did not disclose the identity of the suspect nor the candidate the latter was supporting.
“Nakuhaan ng evidence ng vote buying. Anong evidence? ‘Yung pera na nakita sa tao, naka-envelope na. Nakabukod na ‘yung amounts. May kasamang sample ballot,” the Comelec official said.
“I hope magkaroon tayo ng mas positive na resulta doon (sa pag-aresto). Sana nga, may disqualification tayong makita,” he added.
Likewise, Jimenez noted that aside from the arrest in Aklan, multiple reports of alleged vote buying were also recorded across the country. But they were still verifying these reports, he said. /cbb