Cordillera police warns barangay poll bets vs vote buying

LA Trinidad, Benguet - Cordillera policemen strictly warned politicians against vote buying during the Barangay and Sangunniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October.

This, as regional police director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong issued a directive to all commanders of the Cordillera Police Regional Office to do everything they can to stop election cheating in the region.

In a maverick move during the May elections, Magalong himself formally filed criminal charges against at least two politicians in Abra for their alleged involvement in vote buying activities.

Regional police spokesperson Superintendent Davy Limmong said that all police commanders in the region  were directed to actively pursue criminal charges against persons who will be caught in the act of vote-buying.

Limmong added that Magalong has also directed all police commanders to protect the voters from harassment.

He said that the regional police director is also urging “active citizenship” as he seeks help from the public in the campaign against election cheats.

Meanwhile, Magalong said that the regional police is alredy working with their military counterparts in the region to ensure a peaceful Barangay and SK elections.

He said that at least 36 barangays in the region, 33 of which are in Abra, are included in the list of election hot spots. Fourteen of these barangays have been identified with intense political rivalries.

The Cordillera police also urged candidates not to give in to the campaign extortion demands of the New People's Army.

Magalong appealed to politicians to immediately report to the police if they are approached by the rebels and asked to pay for a "permit-to-campaign" fee.