Carcar mayor, barangay execs face complaint for vote-buying

CEBU, Philippines — A defeated candidate for barangay captain of Poblacion 1, Carcar City has brought to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) the alleged rampant vote buying in the last Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Represented by lawyer Rex Jesus Mario Fernandez, Loufel Aleonar filed administrative case for gross misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross oppression and acts unbecoming of a civil servant against Carcar City Mayor Necipuro Apura, and incumbent and newly elected officials of Barangay Poblacion 1.

Named respondents are barangay captain-elect Councilman Baltazar Rojo; councilor-elect Nestor Bargayo, re-elected Councilman Ritchie "Ekoy" Emnace, re-elected Councilman Felixberto "Falax" Cuizon, re-elected Councilman Edwin Barcenas; councilman-elect Barangay Captain Lucky Sphere Varga; re-elected Councilman Eva Asuncion Alicaba and councilman-elect Cecil Barawidan.

"They, with intent to do and commit a felony and with intent to commit gross misconduct, to gravely abuse of authority, to commit gross oppression and do acts unbecoming of a civil servant did acts of buying votes," read the letter dated May 21, 2018 addressed to DILG acting Secretary Eduardo Año.

The same complaint was filed by Aleonar in the morning of May 14, 2018, election day, before the office of Carcar City Election Officer, Atty. Chauncey Boholst.

Aleonar's complaint was supported by the joint affidavit of Julius Sarmiento, Edsel Padin, Leo Alfafara, Elmer  Padin, Salvador Apil and Leonila Cinco-Sato who were candidates for councilman.

The complaint stemmed from the incident last May 11 at about 5:00 p.m. in Upper Cogon, Poblacion 1, Carcar City where brazen and rampant vote-buying reportedly happened allegedly led by Apura.

A certain Alberto Bendanillo Jr. and Alcherlee Ocampo reportedly caught Apura and the respondents giving a total amount of P700 each to Jaymar Martorillas and Janet Benoya with a leaflet containing a list of candidates of the mayor.

Aleonar, in her affidavit-complaint, said she confronted Apura at the residence of Ludylyn Berdin where the vote-buying allegedly happened.

"While Bendanillo and Ocampo were going after those who were running and scampering, I went to the house of Berdin to confront Mayor Apura about the incident and Mayor Apura unabashedly admitted the vote-buying," Aleonar said.

A video clip of their confrontation in a compact disc was attached to support the allegation.

However, Apura denied the allegations though he admitted meeting Aleonar at the house of Berdin where they had a meeting with poll watchers.

"Admit gud tawn, wa siya hilanti? Wa siya kuyapi? Kung mamalit man ko, adto na lang ko sa akong anak nga nidagan og kapitan sa Valladolid. Nganong laing tawo man akong gastuhan?"Apura told The Freeman.

The incident was reported to the Carcar City Police Station which was recorded in the police blotter. —Banat News Copy Editor/MBG  (FREEMAN)