Marines on poll duty in Sulu offered bribes

MANILA, Philippines - The Marine Corps revealed yesterday that some groups tried to bribe its troops who were assigned to secure the recent elections in Sulu.

In a statement, Marines spokesman Capt. Alden Gwyn Amargo said bribery attempts were reported in the areas of Kaumpang, Maligay and Baunoh Bangkal. 

Amargo said Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban ordered that Marines who performed poll security duties in Sulu be honored after learning that they refused the bribe offers.

Amargo said awards will also be given to other Marines deployed in other precincts “who steadfastly performed exemplary election security duties and vehemently refused any attempt of bribery to prevent the ill intents of some political personalities.”

Sabban said they were conducting interviews to verify other reports of bribery attempts. 

“We want to determine how widespread these instances are. I am sure there are many instances (of bribery attempts)… The presence of the Marines deterred election anomalies such as these,” he said.

Amargo said the Marine Battalion Landing Team 5 reported that there were numerous instances when campaign leaders tried to bribe its men deployed at the Kaumpang Elementary School.

Pfc. Rhomel Divina, who was assigned to secure a polling precinct in Maligay, said a campaign leader offered him P100,000 for him to leave the area so the latter and his cohorts could fill out the remaining ballots for their candidate. 

“Your money cannot pay for my services,” Divina told the campaign leader in Filipino.

Amargo said a campaign leader also attempted to bribe S/Sgt. William Magpili, who was securing a polling precinct in Baunoh Bangkal.

 Asked if Marines observed cheating in Sulu and Basilan, Sabban said it would be up to the Commission on Elections to conduct an investigation.

He, however, maintained that the recent elections were generally peaceful and orderly.

Before the May 10 elections, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said there were groups which would try to rig the poll results by bribing soldiers and policemen.

He, however, did not identify the politicians behind these groups.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Delfin Bangit said the peaceful conduct of the elections restored the credibility of the military, which had been tainted by allegations of involvement in poll fraud and partisanship in the past.