PRO-6 Reports No Formal Vote-Buying Cases in Region

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office 6 has not recorded any formal vote-buying complaints in Western Visayas as of Sunday afternoon, May 11.

Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson, said provincial and city police offices have reported no confirmed cases of vote-buying in their respective areas.

“What we got are those alleged by netizens, but as to formal complaints lodged with our police offices, there is none,” Solis said.

He added that police units have been instructed to validate any reports received.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office is investigating an alleged vote-buying incident that occurred on the morning of May 9 in Dueñas town.

In a statement, IPPO said a team has been formed to conduct a thorough investigation into the claims.

The office also encouraged individuals with concrete evidence to come forward and support their allegations.

Reports said the Dueñas Municipal Police Station responded to claims of vote-buying in Barangay Pandan, Dueñas, Iloilo at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

A confrontation allegedly took place between political rivals mayoralty candidate Mamerto Pelopero III and vice mayoral bet Atty. Kaiser Cordero, and the group of re-electionist Vice Mayor Aimee Lamasan, who is aligned with re-electionist Mayor Robert Pama.

Capt. John Francis Layog, along with personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, responded to the incident.

Pelopero alleged that Pama’s group was distributing cash in exchange for votes while visiting the home of a former Sangguniang Bayan member celebrating a wedding anniversary.

However, when questioned by police, Pelopero’s group failed to present concrete evidence and only produced individuals they claimed witnessed the alleged incident.

Layog advised Pelopero’s party to proceed to the Dueñas police station to formally present their evidence and witnesses for further investigation and possible filing of charges.

Due to a lack of evidence, no arrests were made at the scene.

The Dueñas police emphasized that arrests must be supported by reasonable grounds, which were not established during the initial probe.

Maj. Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said no other vote-buying reports have been received aside from the Dueñas incident.

“All other allegations have been posted on social media,” Araño said.

He assured the public that any report submitted to their office is subject to validation.

Araño emphasized that the Philippine National Police is committed to enforcing the law fairly and equally, regardless of a person’s political affiliation or status.

He added that all police actions are guided by existing laws and the PNP Operational Procedures.