Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) – A former employee of the Malabon local government unit (LGU) has been charged with vote buying, following a complaint made by the Navotas City Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.
Just days before the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, a reporter tipped off the Comelec that Maribel Policarpio had organized a meeting with Malabon City voters in Navotas.
The Malabon LGU on Friday said Policarpio was no longer an employee of its city hall beginning Oct. 13.
Navotas police went to the meeting on Oct. 25 and discovered Policarpio distributing envelopes containing ₱300 in cash to attendees.
They also seized from Policarpio several IDs belonging to residents of Barangay Longos in Malabon, documents with the names, precincts, and number of voters per household, and a poster of Atty. Indon Cruz, a candidate for barangay captain, the Comelec said.
The Navotas Comelec on Oct. 26 then filed a complaint against Policarpio for vote buying. It was supported by 198 witnesses who corroborated the allegation.
“During the inquest proceedings, respondent Policarpio, assisted by her attorney, chose not to execute a waiver pursuant to Art 125 of the Revised Penal Code and instead manifested her intention to submit the complaint for immediate resolution,” the Comelec said Saturday.
“The Navotas City Prosecutor’s Office issued a resolution finding probable cause to charge respondent Policarpio for violation of Section 261 (a) 1 of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Comelec Resolution No. 10946 based on the pieces of evidence adduced by the complainant,” it also said.
