Lawmaker faces raps for campaign violation

BATANGAS, Philippines — For allegedly endorsing candidates for barangay captain, a complaint was filed against Batangas second district Rep. Raneo Abu before the Commission on Elections.

Norberto Abanilla and Nicanor Conti, barangay captains of Tayuman, Lobo and Alalum, San Pascual, respectively, filed the complaint on Thursday, citing a letter that Abu wrote to his scholars asking them to vote for certain candidates.

Abanilla and Conti, who are seeking reelection, said the students were told they would lose their scholarship if they would not vote for Carlos Magtibay as chairman of Barangay Tayuman and Ignacio Panopio of San Pascual.

Abu’s letter had a “coercing, intimidating, compelling and influencing effect” on his scholars and is within the definition of vote-buying under the Omnibus Election Code, according to the two barangay officials.  

“Since the source of the scholarship is Congressman Abu’s pork barrel, he is essentially conducting a... partisan political activity classified as an election offense,” the complaint read.

Sought for comment, Abu’s spokesman Tito Aguirre said they would answer the complaint once they have received it.

Abu is a deputy speaker.

12,000 cops to be deployed

The Western Visayas police said it would mobilize 12,000 police officers on election day.

Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional police director, said 7,700 police officers would secure 3,571 polling precincts while around 4,000 would compose various quick reaction teams.

Binag said soldiers belonging to the 3rd Infantry Division would also be tapped for the elections.

170 barangays on poll watchlist

A total of 133 barangays in Western Visayas and 37 in Bulacan were declared election areas of concern.

Negros Occidental has the highest number of  barangays on the poll watchlist with 80, followed by Iloilo with 28,  Capiz, 15; Aklan and Iloilo City, four each, and Antique, two.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said Barangays Mabalasbalas, Salapungan, Caingin and Paco in San Rafael town as well as Muzon, Citrus, San Martin IV and San Pedro in San Jose del Monte are on the watchlist due to intense political rivalry among candidates.

Virgen de las Flores and Tangos in Baliwag were declared  areas of concern due to violent incidents in the 2013 elections.

Eight barangays in San Miguel, five each in Doña Remedios Trinidad and Norzagaray, three in San Ildefonso, two in San Rafael and one each in Hagonoy, Paombong, Calumpit and Angat are also on the watchlist. – Ramon Efren Lazaro