BACOLOD City – A newly-elected village chief in Bago City in Negros Occidental province could face disqualification and criminal charges over allegations of “vote buying” during the recently held barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Negros Occidental elections supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, also the acting election officer for Bago City, said he has already submitted a formal complaint and the complainant’s affidavit to the Commission on Election’s Law Department.
There are now two formal complaints of vote-buying in the province, one being a relative of a candidate for village chief in the town of San Enrique.
Ananoria hopes that other complainants will surface and not fear approaching his office.
However, he explained that because vote-buying is an election-related offense, it requires a supporting affidavit.
The provincial election supervisor added that even after the election, complaints can still be filed with their office, provided that they are not unreasonably delayed. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
