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CEBU CITY — Police in Central Visayas have uncovered at least 10 cases of vote-buying, with authorities seizing more than P250,000 in cash intended to be used to sway voters.
BGen. Redrico Maranan, director of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7), said most of the incidents were reported in Bohol and Cebu.
In several cases, police caught individuals distributing money along with sample ballots favoring specific candidates.
Some voters personally filed blotter reports at local police stations, exposing the attempts to buy their votes.
One of the biggest busts happened in Sibonga, Cebu, on Sunday night, under "Oplan Kontra Bigay," when authorities flagged down a vehicle suspected of carrying a huge amount of money.
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The suspects tried to flee and one of them allegedly fired a gun before they were inter-cepted. One man was caught and found in possession of a firearm while two others man-aged to escape.
Inside the vehicle, authorities recovered P240,000 in cash stuffed inside several envelopes, each contain-ing sample ballots linked to a candidate.
The money and evidence are now with the Sibonga Police.
Maranan also revealed that one of the arrested individuals is believed to be a reservist of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, based on an ID found in his possession. Verification is ongoing with the Visayas Command.
Meanwhile, police confiscated 13 firearms from May 10 to 12 in connection with election-related gun ban. Legal charges have already been filed.
