MANILA — A man was arrested on Monday for allegedly buying votes during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in Taguig City.
Teofilo Banares Jr., 58, was arrested by PO1 Macario Esteban of the PNP Southern Police District at the Upper Bicutan Wet Market at around 7:39 a.m. for offering PHP1,000 in exchange for voting a village councilor candidate.
Banares, who was caught on video handing out cash, arrived at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila at around 12:49 p.m.
In a brief interview with the media upon his arrival at Comelec, Banares belied the vote-buying accusation against him.
In a phone interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday afternoon, the man who took the video of the supposed vote-buying incident said they have submitted the footage to the investigation department at the Taguig City Hall.
“Napansin po naming siya sa tapat ng Silangan Elemnetary School, iniimbestigahan po ngayon sa investigation section dito sa city hall dito sa Tuctucan Street, binabasa pa lang ng attorney ngayon ang statement namin, sila ng imbestigador, wala pang updates (We noticed him in front of Silangan Elementary School. This is under examination now at the investigation section at the city hall here at Tuctucan Street. The lawyer is reviewing our statement, together with the investigator. No updates yet),” said the informant, who refused to reveal his identity for safety reasons.
Banares Is facing a case of violation of Section 261(a) of the Omnibus Election Code with a penalty of one to six years imprisonment and deprivation of the right to suffrage. (PNA)
