Cavite Gov. Remulla: Alleged 'vote-buyers' just poll watchers

MANILA, Philippines— Gov. Jonvic Remulla, who is seeking re-election in the province of Cavite, on Sunday denied being involved in vote buying.

In a statement, Remulla clarified that people from their camp who were questioned by the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were volunteer poll watchers.

"I had just come from a major political rally in Zapote 5, in Bacoor City, when I learned that operatives identifying themselves as members of the CIDG accosted people associated with my campaign," Remulla said in his statement posted on his Facebook page.

“In the process of distributing their travel allowance for next [week’s] training, they were raided and accosted and arrested with no charges,” he added.

At least 10 alleged "vote-buyers" were reportedly arrested by the CIDG-Calabarzon in Bacoor, Cavite on Sunday.

According to reports, they were reported to authorities for giving out small brown envelopes with P200 bills to residents in Barangay Zapote 5, where Remulla said a political rally for his campaign was held.

Authorities confiscated bundles of envelope amounted to P75,800, cash worth 83,500 and white shirts printed with “Tapat sa Bayan, Tapat sa Usapan,” and the names of re-electionists “Jonvic Remulla Gobernador” and “Jolo Revilla Bise-Gobernador.”

Remulla said he is thankful that there was no violence during the raid and the volunteers were fairly accommodated by the authorities.

RELATED: Poll watchdog: Vote buying worsened this year 

Remulla: Parties are allowed poll watchers

He stressed that each party is entitled to a watcher per precinct. He added that they are necessary to “ensure a proper outcome.”

“As per practice for every election, we have watchers' training every day for the next few days leading to the elections,” the governor said.

“The watchers are duly accredited and trained together with a reporting app attached to their smart phones,” he added.

The governor said the Commission on Elections, CIDG and other authorities are welcome to witness the upcoming training of the poll watchers.

He is also hopeful that the incident will not be “twisted” by his opponents.

“As all is fair in times of political fights, we are confident that the people will see this as a misunderstanding and that the elections will proceed with the people's mandate at stake,” Remulla said.

Last April 29, Remulla claimed his opponent, Liberal Party bet Ayong Maliksi, accused him of vote buying. which he also denied.

The governor is running against Maliksi and independent candidates George Abraham Ado and Obet Borral. His ally Revilla, meanwhile is running unopposed for vice governor.

The Comelec earlier warned candidates who are proven to be involved in vote buying may be fined, jailed and disqualified from holding public office for committing this election office. The person who sold their vote may also face the same punishment.

The poll body urged the public to report incidents of vote buying. —Rosette Adel