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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NBI arrests 6 persons who claimed they can manipulate results of May 12 elections

NBI arrests 6 persons who claimed they can manipulate results of May 12 elections

Published May 9, 2025 05:14 pm

Six persons who claimed that they can manipulate the results of the May 12 elections have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during an entrapment operation in Quezon City.

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago on Friday, May 9, presented before the media the arrested suspects who were identified as Roland B. Ucab, Teody A. Abalos, Joseph G. Ong, Cherrylyn U. Adriano, Ralp Edward D. Salas, and Francis James L. Mapua.

Santiago said the operatives of the NBI Special Task Force (NBI-STF) arrested the six suspects during an entrapment operation conducted last May 8 at a hotel in Quezon City where they were caught receiving marked money.

The NBI said the suspects will be charged with estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the RPC, and violations of Section 28 of Republic Act No. 9369, the Automated Election System Law.

It said the operation stemmed from the complaint of lawyer Genaro N. Montefalcon, a mayoral candidate in Iba, Zambales who said he was approached by the suspects last month.

“They claimed connections within the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and offered to secure his victory in the upcoming May 12 elections by manipulating the Automated Counting Machines, for a fee of P30 million,” the NBI said.  

One of the suspects, Abalos “claimed to have a direct connection with the previous Comelec chairman, stating that he is the nephew of senator-candidate Benhur Abalos and a grandson of former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos,” it added.

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