Abra bets accused of vote-buying

BANGUED, Abra, Philippines – Politics has heated up in this province as an opposition congressional candidate accused administration bets of vote-buying.

Lawyer Hans Roger Luna claimed yesterday that his opponent, re-electionist Rep. Joy Bernos, re-electionist Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin and his niece – vice gubernatorial candidate Charrie Bersamin  – are involved in vote-buying. The Bersamins and Bernos are running under the Liberal Party (LP).

Luna said LP campaign volunteers went from house to house pretending to be distributing sample ballots and leaflets.

Luna, whose mother former congresswoman and Lagayan Mayor Cesy Luna is running for governor against the elder Bersamin, claimed P3,000 in cash is attached to the sample ballots being distributed by the volunteers. He said he has a video footage to prove his point.

Bernos and Bersamin denied the accusation and expressed doubt on the video’s authenticity.