FLAGRANT VOTE BUYING

By CONG CORRALES, Associate Editor
LITO RULONA and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

 THE vote-buying in the city started as early as Friday. Everyone is talking about it but authorities only arrested only one suspect–the barangay chairman of Pigsag-an–who allegedly yielded some P41 thousand in cash and Padayon Pilipino sample ballots yesterday.

On Saturday evening, residents of District 4, Barangay Consolacion were startled when people congregating at a dark corner started scampering when a police patrol car stopped in front of them.

Eyewitnesses said they saw a man who stumbled and the money inside the bag he was toting spilled out.

A former barangay official, who requested anonymity, said he saw the entire episode and wondered why it was not reported the next day, Sunday.

“Nakita nako namumo ang tao ug nabuhagay ang kwarta sulod sa iyang bag nga gidala kay gihunongan man sila og pulis,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

There were also reports of flagrant vote buying in barangays Puntod, Barangay 23, Gusa, Lapasan, Tablon, Puerto, Bugo, Nazareth, and Carmen, among others.

As early as Friday, voters were reportedly handed P1 thousand each after they showed their sample ballots with their names and precinct numbers that were sent by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). The Gold Star Daily learned from various sources that was only the first tranche.

Another group allegedly distributed P300 per voter last weekend, and more money on Sunday and yesterday.

Three candidates allegedly pooled their resources–P500 per voter from the standard bearer, P200 from his running mate, and another P200 from a congressional candidate.

Another congressional candidate allegedly set aside P500 per voter.

A police officer, who requested anonymity, said it was hard to go after vote buyers because of “so many loopholes” in the Omnibus Election Code.

“Lisod kaayo mosulod lang kalit sa balay bisan kabalo ka nga adunay nagtinulonay og kwarta sa sulod nga wala kay warrant,” said the officer. “Ipagkawat pa lang hinuon mi.”

Officially, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) could only confirm arresting only one alleged vote buyer.

Police identified the suspect as Salvador Misca Sr., chairman of Barangay Pigsag-an, who was allegedly caught in the act of distributing money inside his house.

Seized from Misca were P41 thousand in cash and sample ballots that show the names of former mayor Vicente Emano and candidates running for various positions under his ticket.

Acting elections officer Joel Dexter Nagtalon said the Comelec has yet to receive a report about the arrest, adding that they were still focusing on preparations for the canvassing of votes.

“Verify (with) PNP wala [sic] pa written report niabot sa (office),” reads Nagtalon’s text message reads.

Misca was reportedly arrested by a team from the Lumbia police led by Senior Insp. Dennis Ebsolo and an Army tactical operations group led by Capt. Abdurahman Jainuddin.

While the patrol team was returning, the police and soldiers were stopped by a concerned citizen who told them about the alleged vote buying that was taking place in the village.

Esbolo said they responded and caught in the act by plain view Misca who was allegedly distributing sample ballots with P500 bills.

Misca was brought to the Lumbia police station, and is facing charges.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting  (PPCRV) here decried the flagrant vote buying  in the city.

PPCRV coordinator Carl Cabaraban said it was as if repeated calls and the “No Vote for Sale” campaign of the local Roman Catholic archdiocese all fell on deaf ears.

Cabaraban said the church did not fail to remind voters against the practice of vote buying.

He faulted the culture that allows votes in exchange for money for the flagrant vote buying that took place in the city.

“Wala lang ma-appreciate sa mga   tawo kon unsa ka importante ang kampanya sa Simbahan,” Cabaraban said.