24 vote-buying, selling suspects nabbed by PNP nationwide so far
Published May 10, 2019 05:02 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
At least 24 individuals, who were allegedly engaged in vote-buying and selling, have been arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) nationwide, a ranking police officer revealed Friday.
PNP Director for Operations Police Major General Mao Aplasca bares hotlines for complaints on vote-buying, others which will be operational 24 hours everyday until after the election day. (MARTIN SADONGDONG / MANILA BULLETIN)
Police Major General Mao Aplasca, PNP Directorate for Operations, said the arrests were made by different police units in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Calabarzon (Region 4A) since the start of election period on January 13 up to Friday.
"We are sending a strong message that this time, we will take vote-buying seriously. To those planning , huwag na sila mag-attempt," Aplasca told reporters at Camp Crame.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Director John Rex Laudiangco said that at least 10 cases of vote-buying and selling have been filed before the law department.
"As of now, we cannot say na lumalala without having the cases filed yet. But the reports are coming in, dumarami, so we have to take it seriously. Hindi pwedeng maghintay lang kami," Laudiangco said.
Laudiangco said that vote-buying and selling is an election offense punishable under Article XXII, Section 261, paragraph (a) of the Omnibus Election Code.
"Election offense ito so imprisonment of one to six years coupled with accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification of holding public office. Pati civil rights to vote mawawala," he explained.
Consequently, the PNP and Comelec bared the activation of Task Force Kontra Bigay which will focus on investigating and prosecuting those will be caught engaged in vote-buying and selling.
Aplasca said that around 105 teams of Task Force Kontra Bigay will be formed across the country before Monday's midterm elections.
"We are going to create operating teams per region. In National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), there will be six teams: one per district and another one at the regional headquarters. In other regional offices, one team per province and chartered city and another for regional headquarters," he explained.
The PNP also bared 24/7 hotlines where the public can report cases of vote-buying and selling, and other suspicious activities in their communities related to the midterm polls.
The PNP-National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) hotlines are 0916-330-9158 and 0947-520-7864. #MatalinongBoto2019
PNP Director for Operations Police Major General Mao Aplasca bares hotlines for complaints on vote-buying, others which will be operational 24 hours everyday until after the election day. (MARTIN SADONGDONG / MANILA BULLETIN)
Police Major General Mao Aplasca, PNP Directorate for Operations, said the arrests were made by different police units in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Calabarzon (Region 4A) since the start of election period on January 13 up to Friday.
"We are sending a strong message that this time, we will take vote-buying seriously. To those planning , huwag na sila mag-attempt," Aplasca told reporters at Camp Crame.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Director John Rex Laudiangco said that at least 10 cases of vote-buying and selling have been filed before the law department.
"As of now, we cannot say na lumalala without having the cases filed yet. But the reports are coming in, dumarami, so we have to take it seriously. Hindi pwedeng maghintay lang kami," Laudiangco said.
Laudiangco said that vote-buying and selling is an election offense punishable under Article XXII, Section 261, paragraph (a) of the Omnibus Election Code.
"Election offense ito so imprisonment of one to six years coupled with accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification of holding public office. Pati civil rights to vote mawawala," he explained.
Consequently, the PNP and Comelec bared the activation of Task Force Kontra Bigay which will focus on investigating and prosecuting those will be caught engaged in vote-buying and selling.
Aplasca said that around 105 teams of Task Force Kontra Bigay will be formed across the country before Monday's midterm elections.
"We are going to create operating teams per region. In National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), there will be six teams: one per district and another one at the regional headquarters. In other regional offices, one team per province and chartered city and another for regional headquarters," he explained.
The PNP also bared 24/7 hotlines where the public can report cases of vote-buying and selling, and other suspicious activities in their communities related to the midterm polls.
The PNP-National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) hotlines are 0916-330-9158 and 0947-520-7864. #MatalinongBoto2019