Lawmaker seeks help vs vote buying

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A lawmaker has called on Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil to look into “massive and unabated” vote buying in the 6th District of Pangasinan.

District Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas claimed in her letter to Garcia and Marbil that there is widespread vote buying in Rosales, Balungao and Asingan towns.

Agabas said she has been getting reports about the blatant and open vote buying, reportedly at P3,000 per voter.

Agabas is running against Gilbert Estrella, son of Agrarian Reform chief Conrado Estrella III.

“Vote buying centers are public knowledge especially in Rosales. It is an open secret. Despite being evident and open, no corresponding counter-action from any police station has been observed,” Agabas said in her letter to Garcia and Marbil.

“It is at this juncture that I believe higher authorities should step in, considering that persons with a lower pay grade are understandably reluctant to act considering that a high-ranking official is behind all this,” the letter read.

Agabas claimed that witnesses are reluctant to execute affidavits “because they are also subjected to harassment and terrorism.”

“The Comelec and the PNP are in the best position to use their resources and intelligence network in order to motu proprio conduct their own investigation and action,” she said.