Hiring of poll watchers used as cover for vote-buying in Olongapo, Gordon claims; bets deny allegations

Senator Richard Gordon claimed that several voters are given up to P1,000 each in the guise of being hired as poll watchers as part of a vote-buying scheme in Olongapo City.

According to Raffy Tima's report for 24 Oras on Friday, Jeffrey Khonghun and Rolen Paulino, who are running for congressman and mayor in the city, respectively, denied the senator's allegation that they were behind the alleged vote-buying operation.

In an earlier press conference, Gordon presented photos showing people lining up for poll watcher IDs that allegedly contained up to P1,000 in cash.

"They are desperate. Talo na sila eh," Gordon said.

"They have done this before you know that...pareho ang style. Marami silang kukunin na watchers, marami silang taong nakukuha," he added.

Gordon also pointed out that President Rodrigo Duterte has named Khonghun as among the narco-politicians in his drug list.

"This is narcopolitics at work here," the senator said.

In a press briefing on Friday, Paulino denied vote buying allegations. "[Ang] allegation po nilang vote buying, no such thing," he said.

Khonghun, on the other hand, said the cash being handed out in photos presented by the senator was meant to be "allowance."

"Actually, yung pang kain lang niya 'yun...siyempre...allowance po 'yun," he said.

Khonghun also lamented his inclusion in Duterte's narco-list. "Nasa narco-list nga kami, pero hindi naman ibig sabihin nung nasa narco-list ka, drug dealer ka or drug pusher ka. Hindi eh," he said. —Margaret Claire Layug/LDF, GMA News