By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite — Ten campaign supporters of former Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. who were arrested on allegations of vote-buying in Bacoor City were ordered released by the City Prosecutor's Office for insufficiency of evidence.
Ten alleged vote-buyers in Cavite attend inquest proceedings on their case at the City Hall of Justice in Bacoor. (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
The release of the supporters was announced Tuesday by Remulla himself and was confirmed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Cavite Field Unit Office.
Remulla said those released were "people associated with my campaign.”
In a press statement, Remulla said: “The Bacoor Fiscal's Office has released the people associated with my campaign for insufficiency of evidence. There were no affidavits nor were they able to prove during the inquest that there was vote-buying."
A CIDG team arrested the Revilla supporters Saturday night at a house in Barangay Zapote V, Bacoor where small brown envelopes each containing P200 in bills were found.
The money amounted to P75,800. The CIDG team reportedly also seized P83,500 in cash, a plastic bag with red wristbands and two white campaign shirts.
The shirts were printed with “Tapat sa Bayan, Tapat sa Usapan Jonvic Remulla Gobernador and Jolo Revilla Bise Gobernador” and at the back, “Wow Pilipinas.” Wow Pilipinas is a local party-list.
Last Monday, the CIDG filed a complaint against the 10 for vote buying with the Prosecutor's Office.
Remulla strongly denied the charges, saying those arrested were either poll watchers and personnel under training, and that the cash seized from them were their "transportation allowance."
Remulla, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party. is a younger brother of incumbent Governor Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla. He will be going against former Governor Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi of Liberal Party (LP) and two independent candidates. Boying is running this time for congressman in Cavite's 6th District.
Jonvic Remulla said he had just come from a campaign rally in Barangay Zapote 5 when he learned of the arrest of his supporters.
Six of the 10 associates have Office of the Provincial Governor (OPG) identification cards, it was learned.
Remulla said every candidate was entitled to having watchers on election day.
He said he and his running mate, incumbent Vice Gov. Ramon Jolo Revilla III, do not need to buy votes in their own bailwick, Bacoor.
Revilla, of the National People's Coalition (NPC), is running unopposed.
“We do not need to buy votes. We are comfortable with our standings,” Remulla said.
Asked if he would file counter-charges against the authorities in connection with the arrest of his associates, Remulla did not reply.
Read more: CIDG arrests 10 vote-buyers in Cavite