The police regional director of Western Visayas (Region 6) yesterday assured that cases of vote buying during the recent mid-term elections were filed against offenders in the towns of Negros Occidental and Iloilo provinces.
Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, PRO 6 regional director, assured that cases of vote buying were filed against offenders in the towns of Moises Padilla in Negros Occ. and in Lambunao, Barotac Nuevo and Calinog in Iloilo.
“The cases had been filed and it’s now up to the prosecutors to resolve the issue,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Cases were also filed against Milky Lira, village chief of Jaboyo, Lambunao town for violating the election gun ban.
A few minutes before the May 13 elections, 12 village watchmen in Jaboyo were collared for brandishing firearms and staging a check-point at the village’s entry point.
Reports said Lira is an ally of mayoralty candidate Reynor Gonzales as the village watchmen claimed that the checkpoint was established to prevent the harassment from another political party.
“I want to emphasize that this (Lira) is an alleged supporter of the Defensors,” Bulalacao said.
He stressed that the filing of cases against Lira is an indication that the police do not favor any political candidate, contrary to the allegations that Bulalacao only sides with the Defensor clan.
Incumbent Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.’s son Arthur Jr. won against Fourth District Rep. Ferjenel Biron in the gubernatorial race.
Bulalacao said he will not file a case against Lemuel Fernandez, Biron’s chief of staff.
“I wanted to file a case against Mr. Fernandez for his allegations but I should be mature enough to refrain myself from creating enemies,” he said.
As an individual and as commander of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bulalacao said that he is consistent in his principle of being fair to everyone – regardless of their political ties.* (Gail Momblan, NDB via PNA)