2 vote buyers nabbed in Albay

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected vote buyers allegedly working for a local candidate in Albay were arrested by the military on Saturday.

Elements of the 22nd Infantry Battalion (IB) nabbed Saturnino Pesino, 53, and Edgar Caluyo, 47, at a checkpoint in the municipality of Pio Duran, according to 9th Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc.

Cabunoc said the soldiers recovered from the suspects sample ballots with stapled money amounting to P1,400.  The ballots reportedly bore the name of a local politician running for municipal councilor.

The soldiers stopped the two after receiving a tip from a resident that the alleged vote buyers were heading towards the checkpoint.

The suspects were brought to the Pio Duran Municipal Police Station for filing of appropriate cases. 

“The presence of alleged vote-buyers is always a cause of tensions between the supporters of opposing political candidates so we are also helping our brothers from the PNP (Philippine National Police) to prevent vote buying,” said 22nd IB Commander Leoncio Cirunay.

Last week, the military also arrested three suspected vote buyers in Viga, Catanduanes who had in their possession P109,000 cash inside brown envelopes. The suspects were identified as Gretchen Liton, 24, Leslie Liton, 23, and Edgar Tanael, 40.

Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion, said the three claimed to be working for a vice gubernatorial candidate.