4 nabbed in alleged vote-buying in North Cotabato

May 11, 2019

Four individuals were arrested in North Cotabato due to alleged vote-buying and disobedience to a person in authority, police said on Saturday.

According to a report by Mlang Municipal Police, they received a call around 4:30pm on Friday from a concerned citizen about an alleged vote-buying involving suspected armed men at the Barangay Hall of Purok 2 in Barangay New Kalibo.

When the authorities arrived at the reported place, the caller informed them that the suspects hurriedly left the place and went inside a parked Mitsubishi Strada pickup.

Police said the suspects only alighted the vehicle when their legal counsel arrived.

The witness positively identified the suspects as Matteo Cabrillos Cuarteros, 52, a driver; Sonny Dafielmoto Pasquin, 55, farmer; Joel Forden Bolero, 55, farmer; and Christine Punzalan Esparagoza, 33 years old.

Police seized P200,660 cash, four sheets of paper with names and corresponding signatures, and one vehicle from the suspects.

The suspects were brought to the Mlang Municipal Police Station's custodial facility.

Complaints of disobedience to authority and vote-buying would be filed at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Kabacan, North Cotabato. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS