Vote buying in Iloilo towns uncovered
Eight village chiefs in San Joaquin, Iloilo turned over to the town police station envelops containing money believed to be intended for vote buying late afternoon last Saturday, May 8.
The white envelops contain P4,000 each, all in P100 denomination, and have a sticker of gubernatorial candidate Raul Tupas.
Police blotter showed that the eight barangay captains who turned over the said envelops were Aida Seriosa of Brgy. Balabago, Ramon Sta. Cruz of Brgy. Cataan, Gerardo Santamera of Brgy. Tiolas, Conrado Go of Brgy. Masagod, Mario Sansolis of Purok I, Nelson Santorce of Purok III, Concepcion Aguila of Crossing Dapuyan and Efren Pasco of Brgy. Bucaya.
Though the eight barangay captains separately turned over the envelops, they all claimed that the envelops came from a certain Rhea Arevalo.
They claimed that Arevalo gave them the envelops saying it is for their snacks and at the same time Arevalo allegedly told them, “indi lang gid n’yo pagpatam-i si Tupas a.”
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Arevalo works at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
Police investigator PO2 Rolen Labios said they have put under their custody the money as they await any possible complainants.
Meanwhile, Tupas when reached by Aksyon Radyo Iloilo for a reaction vehemently denied that the money came from him or from his camp.
He said it could be a dirty trick of his opponent as he does not engage in the practice of vote buying.
“Paano ko makapamakal kay wala ako iya kwarta?” Tupas told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
On the other hand, a case of vote buying was also intercepted in Passi City last Saturday. A person who requested anonymity for security reasons showed to The News Today two separate amounts of money given to him by a political leader. One is P250 stapled with paper printed with the name “Doc Hope” and the other is P250 also stapled with the name “Jun B. Member Sangguniang Panlalawigan.”
“Doc Hope” refers to Passi City mayoral candidate Hope Palmares, while “Jun B.” refers to Hernan Biron Jr., candidate for Board Member in the fourth district of Iloilo.
