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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Liquor ban, vote buying violations in Central Luzon

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Camp Olivas, Pampanga—Authorities hauled at least 62 persons to police stations for alleged violation of the Commission on Elections liquor ban and vote-buying offenses in Pampanga and Tarlac areas, the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center announced Monday.

Central Luzon Philippine National Police director Police BGen. Joel Napoleon Coronel said 54 persons were rounded up in different entertainment and fun houses in separate areas in the region since the start of 24-hour liquor ban.

Eight more, who were reportedly engaged in vote-buying, were arrested before election day.

“We make sure that the eletoral process will be orderly, so we don’t want voters who are drunk to go to polling places,” said Coronel in a statement.

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Appropriate charges awaits violators, including owners of establishments, he added.

In Pampanga, 32 vote counting machines malfunctioned even before the electoral priocess started in at least seven polling places in Arayat, Sta. Ana, Apalit, Macabebe, San Luis, Minalin and Sta. Rita, said Provincial Comelec head lawyer Fernando Cot-om.

Cot-om said 30 polling precincts have been affected after the VCM’s encountered minor glitches. He said some VCM’s has no SD cards.

“Good thing defective VCM’s were quickly replaced and casting of votes resumed,” he said during press briefing called by the PNP and Comelec here.

In Tarlac, a 71-year-old farmer was among those arrested by the police over a P100 bill in exchange for a vote for  local candidate.

Police also arrested seven persons in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga for alleged vote-buying offenses.

In Angeles City, a supporter of local candidate was arrested by lawmen who noticed a suspicious item tucked into his waist. A 9mm caliber pistol replica was seized from the man after a body check, said Police Colonel Narvin Mangune. 

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