Political kingpins buy voters P3K each in Abra

May 19, 2018 Provincial

BAGUIO CITY – Voters in at least three Abra towns were reportedly given P3,000 each to favor bets for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan supported by political kingpins even before the start of the May 14 polls.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño earlier acknowledged they were verifying reports of vote buying and harassment reported in Abra, San Rafael in Bulacan, Antipolo City and 17 cities in Metro Manila, including Quezon City and Marikina.
The DILG official also said they also received video footages of some municipal mayors, congressmen and governors “harassing” those running against their candidates.
Diño vowed once these complaints are verified, the DILG will be filing administrative charges against involved officials which could even lead to their “perpetual disqualification.”
DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año even said earlier that they have ordered several mayors to explain after they were reported to be involved in the whittling down of barangay candidates to a single slate.
A farmer Edgar Tudino Vasquez, 41, from sitio San Antonio, Brgy. Dumayco, Penarrubia, Abra, told policemen that on May 9, while he was standing along the provincial road in his village, a blue pick-up truck driven by a certain Rico Baga along with Antonio Molina alias “Nuning” stopped and invited him to ride and head to the mayor’s house.
While they were on board the pick-up truck, Molina reportedly told him in Iluko “nu saan mo nga ibotos ni ‘Odi’ ket kastoyen daka” (If you will not vote for Odi, we will do this) signalling his right index finger slashing like a blade on his throat.
In front of Penarubia town Mayor Jane Cecilia, a woman identified only as Mrs. Guerzon gave Vazquez a leaflet printed with names of some barangay Dumayco bets.
Peñarrubia policemen reportedly invited those involved including incumbent barangay chairman Jessie Sembrano and settled the issue via a dialogue.
Poll officials in the province still could not be contacted to comment on the alleged vote buying reports. ACE ALEGRE / ABN