Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, said yesterday that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has prepared the necessary documents and pieces of evidence to file charges against 10 alleged vote-buyers who were caught in Bacoor City, Cavite.
“Based on what I know, the case will be filed by the CIDG today (Monday),” Albayalde said in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
The suspects identified as Teresita Marjes, Irene Morales, Elsie Alano, Jayson Alab, Rex del Rosario, Jose de Leon, Gregorio Tamio, Michael Omedes, Joselino Villa, and Jowel Sale are facing charges for violation of Article 22, Section 261, Paragraph (a) (vote-buying) of the Batas Pambansa Bilang 881 or the Omnibus Election Code.
The suspects were accused of bribing residents in Barangay Zapote 5 to vote for reelectionist Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla and Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla, the CIDG-Calabarzon said.
Albayalde could not confirm whether Remulla and Revilla were included as respondents in the case.
“So far, I think it’s just the ten suspects. Remulla and Revilla’s inclusion in the case will depend on the appreciation of the court,” he said.
Albayalde said they acknowledged the alibi of Remulla and Revilla that the suspects were only dispersing the travel allowance of the governor’s campaign watchers when they were accosted by CIDG personnel on Sunday. “That is their alibi. In our part, we base our case on what was presented by the investigators,” he said.
According to the CIDG-Calabarzon, they caught the suspects while in the act of buying votes after a concerned citized tipped them of the incident.
Remulla, however, said that his watchers were merely distributing the travel allowances among themselves for a seminar or training when they were apprehended by the CIDG personnel. Revilla backed Remulla’s claim and added he does not need to buy votes as he is running unopposed.
Albayalde encouraged the public to document cases of vote-buying if ever they encounter one. (Martin Sadongdong)