Rider suspected of vote-buying apprehended at Negros Oriental checkpoint

Authorities in Negros Oriental over the weekend apprehended a man presumed to be involved in vote-buying, as they found cash and sample ballots stored in his compartment during a checkpoint ahead of the national and local elections on Monday, May 12.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental, the suspect was apprehended at a checkpoint along Barangay Lutao in Bacong, Negros Oriental. They found the cash — in P100 and P500 denominations — inside envelopes, along with sample ballots.

“There’s a presumption kung bakit may bitbit ‘yung isa tao na ganon, na ganon kadaming envelope, and ganong mga pera sa loob ng envelope, so there’s a presumption of vote buying,” PNP Negros Oriental spokesperson P/Lt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(There’s a presumption why a person was carrying those materials — that much envelopes and cash inside, so there’s a presumption of vote buying.)

GMA Integrated News is still trying to reach out to the suspect for comment on the matter. He was later released by authorities, as they said they will first have to file a complaint against him before the Kontra Bigay committee of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Poll watchers in the area over the weekend also have begun to prepare materials needed for the polls on Monday, with automated counting machines and official ballots turned over by officials on Sunday afternoon.

Materials were delivered to islands through jetties, which were escorted by poll watchers, the local police, and coast guard personnel.

“‘Yung dagat po ay kino-consider natin pa-low tide na po, tapos ‘yung eleksyon bukas magsisimula 5 ng umaga so kailangan ready na,” Olympia Polling Center Electoral Board chairman Franco Gabines said in the same report.

(We consider the ocean because the low tide is nearing, and the election tomorrow starts at 5 in the morning so it needs to be ready.)

For the far-flung areas, materials were distributed through dump trucks, with soldiers part of the security.

“Para sa bayan din, 'di ba, kasi part din ‘to sa trabaho namin. It’s a noble job. Kami talaga, ‘yung mga teacher, ‘yung heart namin nandito sa trabaho,” Mabunao Polling Center Electoral Board chair Maria Sheena Jamito said.

(This is also for the country, right, because this is also part of our job. It’s a noble job. Us, the teachers, our heart is really here for this duty.) —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News

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