Police arrest QC mayoralty bet for alleged vote buying

May 13, 2019

A day before the election, mayoral candidate Vicente “Bingbong” Crisologo was arrested Sunday evening by Quezon City police for interfering in their operation against an alleged vote buyer who happened to be his supporter.

In a report from the Quezon City Police District, the incident transpired around 7:30 pm while their operative was conducting operation on reported vote buying activities inside a residence at Barangay Bahay Toro.

Authorities arrested an 80-year-old volunteer and recovered cash amounting to P800 and his identification card with the picture of Crisologo. Forty-three other alleged supporters were also arrested.

Police said the commotion started when Crisologo arrived and intimidated them.

The camp of Crisologo cried foul at the alleged irregularities of the police officers arresting them without a search warrant and only wearing civilian clothes.

In a series of Facebook videos, the supporters claimed there was no vote buying. They were only meeting their poll watchers.

In an early press conference Monday, Philippine National Police ( PNP) General Oscar Albayalde said Crisologo padlocked police officers inside the house.

“They are conducting follow up operations on alleged vote buying and it appears that Congressman Crisologo entered the house, ordered his people to padlock the gate that why our officers cannot go out. Based on the report, it looks like he is intimidating our police,” he said.

In a meeting Monday morning with the PNP, Crisologo claimed he was assaulted and they were forcibly arrested by police officers.

During the meeting, Crisologo and QCPD chief Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel exchanged heated arguments.

“(Police Lieutenant) Colonel Alex Alberto, without anything (shouted): ‘Arrest them! Arrest them all, that’s vote buying!’, after that he went to all the rooms without any search warrant,” he told Albayalde.

“They arrested us for vote buying when they is no money (involved) there,” said Crisologo.

But on the part of Esquivel, Crisologo threatened and swore at his police officers.

“Are you categorically denying that you swear at my policemen?... You bullied my officers,” Esquivel asked Crisologo telling him they have a video of the incident.

Esquivel added they also have videos of the Crisologo and his son refusing to remove their handcuffs.

“You are grandstanding… As professional courtesy, you are in the station. We are removing your cuffs,” he said.

The station commander, Alberto, told his higher commanders that Crisologo really did swear at him.

Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar, the National Capitol Region director, said they do not want to antagonize influential people.

“We are finalizing the documentation against you so that it will be referred to the Office of the Prosecutor and to have a disposition on what happen,” Eleazar told Crisologo.

Albayalde told Crisologo they will investigate any irregularities the officers conducted.

“We just visit you just to ensure you are in good condition… maybe there was a misunderstanding why it ended like this,” he said.

“Our policemen will be made answerable for that,” he said.

After the meeting, Albayalde told reporters that just because someone is giving money during election activities, it means that it is already vote buying.

“You know other allegations of vote buying, it appears not to be true once verified,” he said.

On the claim of Crisologo about alleged vote buying activity by his rival Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, the PNP chief said his camp should immediately report this to the authorities.

“If they see that activity is going on, they should file complaints. Why did they just say that now? They should have reported it,” he said.

“If they wanted to file a complaint during that time, we could have assisted them and give them time to file a case,” he added.

Aside from unjust vexation, charges of violation of section 261 (a) of Omnibus Election code (vote buying and selling); obstruction of justice, disobedience and resisting arrest, Indirect assault resulting to physical injury, grave coercion and usurpation of authority will be filed against Crisologo.

Albayalde said he can still vote once the prosecutor decides to release him. Ella Dionisio/DMS