The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Navotas Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, Oct. 26 launched "Oplan Kontra Bigay" and apprehended a woman due to alleged vote buying in Navotas City.
In a video released by the Navotas PNP, a woman was caught in the act of distributing money placed in a white envelope inside a warehouse.
"Mga 400 po [ang bilang ng envelope]. Ay wala po," the woman told authorities when asked how many items were in her bag and who ordered the cash distribution.
In a press conference, Comelec chairman George Garcia said informants had tipped off the authorities regarding the alleged vote buying.
"Madaming tao ang nandoon [sa warehouse]. Pumunta agad ang ating Philippine National Police personnel, at ngayon, patuloy na nangangalap ng mga ebidensya," he said.
Garcia mentioned that they were glad and agitated at the same time by the incident.
"Nakakatuwa pero nakakangitngit at nakakagalit. Nakakatuwa dahil sympre may nahuli kami. Nakakagalit kasi despite the fact na sinasabi namin na huwag na huwag niyong gagawin, pinapatunayan talaga natin iyan na hindi natin palalampasin yung ganyan, may nag co-commit pa rin," the Comelec chairman said.
"Sana nga mali yung akusasyon. But kung saka-sakali, defenitely, we will immediately act on that," he added.
He said those candidates who will be proven responsible for the cash distribution would be held accountable and may face suspension of proclamation.
Garcia urged the public to report vote-buying incidents in their respective areas to the poll body's official website.
"Again, hindi namin palalagpasin ang isyu ng vote buying . Alam natin sa susunod na araw na ang pamimili ng boto ang magiging norm. Therefore, sana magtulong-tulong ang ating kababayan. Paki-report niyo agad sa Comelec, sa website namin yung mga isyu sa vote buying," the Comelec chairman said.
