BACOLOD CITY – Thirty persons, including three minors were arrested in two areas in Negros Occidental for alleged vote buying and illegal campaigning.
Of the total number, 28 of which were arrested in the town of Moises Padilla the night before the election day.
Police Lt. Col. Adrian Acollador, head of Task Force MOLAI (Moises Padilla, and neighboring towns, La Castellana, and Isabela), said they responded to reports of massive vote buying in several villages in the town Sunday night.
Twelve persons, including two minors were arrested in Barangay 7 after police recovered from them sample ballots enclosed with two P500 bills.
Authorities also arrested 16 other individuals, including a minor on board a public utility jeepney, allegedly carrying about 600 sample ballots.
Acollador said the 12 individuals will be charged for vote buying while the others will face charges for prohibited campaigning in relation to the Fair Elections Act. However, the minors aged 15 to 16 years old will be released from police custody.
Meanwhile, two persons were also arrested in E.B. Magalona town early Monday, for alleged vote buying.
Police Capt. Jaynick Bermudez, town police chief, said the two persons were riding a motorcycle when they were flagged down by authorities for inspection in Barangay Tuburan at 4 a.m. However, they resisted. (Glazyl Masculino)