Sinas: Monday’s election peaceful despite massive vote buying, reported presence of armed men

Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Policemen in Central Visayas responded to at least twelve incidences of vote buying and confiscated P21, 270 worth of cash intended for the purpose.

Brigadier General Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said they also received various reports on the allege presence of armed men during Monday’s election.

This included the alleged arrival of 12 armed men who “ransacked” the Apas barangay hall around 3 p.m. on election day.

Read More: Two employees hurt as masked men ‘ransack’ Apas barangay hall

Sinas said this was the first time in his career as a policeman that he received this much reports on vote buying and the presence of armed men in an election.

“In my experience during the elections, karon lang ko naka dawat og kadaghang report on vote buying left and right, coupled with reports of presence of armed group, armed men, armed personalities in different areas,” said Sinas during a media briefing at the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) held earlier today, May 14.

Still, Sinas said that the conduct of Monday’s election remained peaceful because there were no reported bloodshed especially here in Cebu.

Of the 12 vote buying incidences, two happened in Cebu City while three others happened in other parts of Cebu province. The seven other incidences happened in other parts of the region.

Sinas cited the citizens arrest of Barangay Looc village chief Joselito Canes and two companions identified as Jetro Imalay, 39, and Marilou Juntilla, 35 in Danao City in northern Cebu at around 11 a.m. on Election Day, May 13.

But  Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde ordered the three men released and advised lawyer Michael Enriquez who enforced citizens arrest on the three suspects, to instead file a complaint against them at the City Prosecutor’s Office.

“This is an election related incident, so this falls in the regular filling in court, so they have to be released,” said Gujilde.

Meanwhile, 123 people were also taken into police custody for violation of the liquor ban that was implemented for a period of 48-hours from midnight of May 12 until May 14. Sixty-seven of these individuals were arrested in Cebu City, while the 47  were arrested in parts of Cebu province. /dcb