Comelec Bicol receives 78 poll-related complaints

LEGAZPI CITY — The Commission on Elections in Bicol (Comelec-5) has received 78 election-related complaints during the midterm polls on May 12.

Comelec-5 regional director Maria Juana Valeza told The Manila Times that her office received 64 complaints of vote-buying and 11 cases of abuse of state resources.

Valeza said Catanduanes has the highest number of complaints with 36; followed by Albay and Camarines Sur with 13 each; Masbate, 12; Sorsogon, three; and Camarines Norte with one.

"The 11 cases of abuse of state resources is broken down to nine abuses of funds, among others, and two use of personnel," Valeza said.

Among the officials who are facing charges of abuse of state resources are congressman-elect and outgoing Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion.

The complaint against Legacion was filed by two supporters of congressional candidate Noel De Luna.

Ako Bicol Partylist representative and outgoing Legazpi Mayor Alfredo Garbin is also facing charges, filed by Ted Bellen, a public-school teacher.

Garbin, however, told The Manila Times that Bellen is a "fake news peddler."

Comelec-5 said it has already issued a show cause order against all concerned officials.

Meanwhile, a retired judge and his wife in Naga City filed a vote-buying complaint before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines after the couple received "voter education" ID cards. They were told they could surrender their ID to barangay officials in exchange for P1,000 cash.

Former Naga Regional Trial Court Judge Soliman Santos Jr. and his wife, retired Ateneo de Naga University professor Paz Verdades Santos, said in their joint affidavit that the ID cards were sent to their house.

They said that at the top of the card were the words "Team One CamSur" and at the bottom of the ID cards were the names of some politicians.

Vote-buying is considered as an election offense under the Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.