BANGUED, Abra – This capital town’s mayoral candidate Mary Ann
Bersamin pressed replacement of police officials detailed in Abra claiming they
are doing nothing on "rampant vote-buying" being openly done by her
rival for the Bangued top post in cahoots with barangay (village) officials,
among others.
Bersamin on Wednesday accused police of giving protection to politicians who were buying votes in Abra.
She said she talked to the Bangued chief of police and they agreed police would disperse people lining up at houses of barangay captains, where P3,000 was allegedly being given in exchange for votes for the Valeras.
"I am calling on the police here in Abra, I hope that you will be replaced," Bersamin also said in a phone interview with the media.
The mayoral race in Bangued is a three-cornered fight among Bersamin, former mayor Ryan Luna and incumbent Vice Mayor Mila Valera.
Mila is the wife of incumbent mayor Dominic Valera, who is running for governor and mother of incumbent Abra Gov. Jocelyn Bernos, who is running for vice governor.
Bersamin said police did not do anything. Instead it seems, she added, they are even guarding the vote-buying stations as evidenced by video footage taken by concerned citizens in residences of some barangay captains who had been distributing money to voters.
In her official Facebook account, she posted photos and videos of what she called vote-buying stations with the caption: Kayo pa ang nagbabantay ng buying station nila. AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police), nasaan na ang dignidad ninyo?
Bersamin urged the people of Bangued to vote wisely for the betterment of their town and province as a whole.
"My message to Banguedeños, I know some of you received money because of poverty and fear, but do not forget, they are the reason why our province is in poverty, this is the time for us to turn this situation around, we should not allow poverty and fear to continue," she said in Ilokano.
Bersamin said she will consult her lawyers for possible filing of election complaints against all those involved in alleged rampant vote-buying being done not only in the capital town but also in different parts of the province including security officers of those involved in the election fraud.
Sources in the province said rampant vote-buying started since the filing of certificates of candidacy of those aspiring for elective positions and this continued and now rampant as elections are near.
Abra had been tagged as the killing fields of the North because of numerous election-related violence and incidents killed politicians and their supporters.
At present, the Commission on Elections is studying the possibility of placing Abra under its control to avert untoward incidents and violence that may lead to loss of lives and inflict damage to property due to intense political rivalry among politicians and their supporters.
Bersamin on Wednesday accused police of giving protection to politicians who were buying votes in Abra.
She said she talked to the Bangued chief of police and they agreed police would disperse people lining up at houses of barangay captains, where P3,000 was allegedly being given in exchange for votes for the Valeras.
"I am calling on the police here in Abra, I hope that you will be replaced," Bersamin also said in a phone interview with the media.
The mayoral race in Bangued is a three-cornered fight among Bersamin, former mayor Ryan Luna and incumbent Vice Mayor Mila Valera.
Mila is the wife of incumbent mayor Dominic Valera, who is running for governor and mother of incumbent Abra Gov. Jocelyn Bernos, who is running for vice governor.
Bersamin said police did not do anything. Instead it seems, she added, they are even guarding the vote-buying stations as evidenced by video footage taken by concerned citizens in residences of some barangay captains who had been distributing money to voters.
In her official Facebook account, she posted photos and videos of what she called vote-buying stations with the caption: Kayo pa ang nagbabantay ng buying station nila. AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police), nasaan na ang dignidad ninyo?
Bersamin urged the people of Bangued to vote wisely for the betterment of their town and province as a whole.
"My message to Banguedeños, I know some of you received money because of poverty and fear, but do not forget, they are the reason why our province is in poverty, this is the time for us to turn this situation around, we should not allow poverty and fear to continue," she said in Ilokano.
Bersamin said she will consult her lawyers for possible filing of election complaints against all those involved in alleged rampant vote-buying being done not only in the capital town but also in different parts of the province including security officers of those involved in the election fraud.
Sources in the province said rampant vote-buying started since the filing of certificates of candidacy of those aspiring for elective positions and this continued and now rampant as elections are near.
Abra had been tagged as the killing fields of the North because of numerous election-related violence and incidents killed politicians and their supporters.
At present, the Commission on Elections is studying the possibility of placing Abra under its control to avert untoward incidents and violence that may lead to loss of lives and inflict damage to property due to intense political rivalry among politicians and their supporters.
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