Vote buying case filed against gov

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DISQUALIFICATION petitions were separately filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez and wife Rep. Ruth Mariano-Hernandez for alleged massive vote-buying and other violations of the Omnibus Election Code.

The husband and wife are candidates in the May 12 midterm elections. Governor Hernandez is running for congressman in Laguna's second district while Representative Hernandez is seeking the gubernatorial post.

In two separate petitions, Celito Baron, a registered voter from Laguna, accused the couple of allegedly orchestrating widespread distribution of cash and goods in exchange for votes.

"A Petition for Disqualification is hereby filed against Ruth Hernandez for violation of Section 24 Comelec Resolution 11104 in relation to Section 261 (a) of the Omnibus Election Code; b) for commission of acts which constitute Abuse of State Resources under Section 34 of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Section 261 (o) of the Omnibus Election Code; c) for violation of Comelec Resolution No. 11060 Section 2 in relation to Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code," the petition read.

A key allegation raised in the disqualification complaint involved the supposed transport of Cabuyao City residents to a warehouse in Calamba City under the guise of a training session for poll watchers.

The petitioner alleged that the gathering was a front for distributing money in exchange for votes.

Participants were allegedly handed shirts bearing images of the Hernandez couple, along with food, bottled water and envelopes said to contain P2,000 in cash.

Attached to the complaints were the sworn statements of those who were allegedly taken to the warehouse and were handed out money, along with other pertinent documents relative to the testimonies of witnesses.

Baron also accused the couple of leveraging government-issued health cards — referred to as "blue cards" — to influence voters.

On April 25, officials from the Comelec in Cabuyao reportedly seized 256 of these cards, which bore the label "Province of Laguna" and the printed name of Governor Hernandez.

The items were discovered inside a woman's bag after she was brought by concerned citizens to the barangay hall of Niugan, amid suspicions of vote-buying.

The complainant also submitted affidavits, video footage and supporting documents to support his claim.

"The evidence presented shows that the Health Cards and Yellow Papers containing the voter's name and government insignia were distributed together with promises of P2,000 cash if surrendered. Also, based on the video footage, there were posters of the candidates posted on the stage where Respondent addressed their supporters," the petition read.

"This constitutes possession of campaign materials under Section 26 (a) of Comelec Resolution 11104."

Also, the petition noted that the same set of evidence revealed that voters were specifically told they would receive P2,000 in exchange for surrendering the Yellow Paper with their identification barcode.

"The law treats vote-buying with utmost seriousness because it strikes at the very heart of democratic elections. It undermines the principle of free and intelligent casting of votes, and places undue influence on the electorate through monetary or material inducement," read the petition against the governor.

"As enunciated in well-settled jurisprudence, electoral offenses such as vote-buying are considered grave violations because they impair public confidence in electoral processes. Hence, the Omnibus Election Code justly provides disqualification as an appropriate and necessary remedy to protect the sanctity of elections," it added.