4 nabbed for alleged vote buying in Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines — Four people were arrested on Friday in Barangay New Kalibo in M’lang, Cotabato for alleged vote buying in relation to the May 13 midterm polls.

The suspects were identified as 52-year-old Mateo Cuarteros, 55-year-old Sonny Pasquin, 55-year-old Joel Bolero, and 33 -year-old Christine Esparagoza.

Cotabato police responded to a call from an unnamed citizen that there were allegedly armed men at the Barangay Hall in Purok 2 in Barangay New Kalibo.

The caller then told police that the four were engaged in vote buying.

The suspects then hid in a white Mitsubishi Strada pickup parked at the barangay hall when they noticed the presence of authorities.

Police then requested the vehicle driver to roll down his window. But the driver refused and the suspects locked themselves inside the vehicle for about three hours.

The four only alighted when their legal counsel came.

The unnamed witness then identified the suspects as the ones engaged in vote buying.

Police then searched the vehicle and recovered P200,660 in cash and four sheets of paper with names of persons and their corresponding signatures.

The suspects were immediately brought to the M’lang Municipal Police Station where they were detained.

Cases of vote buying and disobedience to authority will be filed against the four suspects at the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Kabacan, Cotabato.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)