Marines honored for poll integrity
MANILA, Philippines - Marines who refused a bribe offer in Patikul, Sulu during the May 2010 elections have been awarded the Philippine Marine Corps Plaque.
In a statement, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said feted were 2Lt. Marcelo Flores and his 15-man team deployed to secure poll precincts in Kaumpang Elementary School.
“The team… was reportedly approached by campaign leaders and supporters of local candidates who offered them money. They wanted the Marines to leave the school to let the unscrupulous politicians to fill up the remaining ballots for their favored candidates,” Arevalo said.
He said Pfc. Rhomel Divina, one of the members of the team, was approached by a campaign leader and offered P100,000.
Divina turned down the offer and told the briber that his money “cannot buy my services.”
SSgt. William Magpili was reportedly told that he would be taken care of as long as he would allow the men to fill up the rest of the ballots. Magpili also rejected the offer.
“The award given to them is unique. It gives importance to their display of integrity, devotion to duty and incorruptibility,” Arevalo said.
“Their heroism was displayed during the time when people tended to doubt the outcome of the elections… What they did was critical since it was the first automated elections.”
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