Soldiers recovered more than P1.1-million cash in an abandoned house in Barangay Dapiwak in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur Saturday.
“Our troops found the money believed to be left by the goons of unidentified politician at the back of an abandoned house in the said barangay,” said Lt. Col. Rufino de Leon, commander of the 97th Infantry Batallion.
De Leon said he deployed his men after receiving reports of the presence of armed men.
The armed men were reportedly engaged in vote-buying and were also allegedly harassing some residents.
On Sunday, Army troopers also recovered some P124,000 cash from five people whom they arrested for vote-buying in Barangay Bualan, Tubid, Lanao del Norte.
Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the military forces in Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces, said his men also seized sample ballots and other campaign materials.
“Those arrested were already turned over to the local police,” said Ancan.
Vote-buying is rampant before and during election days, prompting the police and military to run after the vote-buyers.
As of 10 a.m. Monday, a total of 234 people were arrested for vote-buying across the country.