BANGUED, Abra – Bangued mayoralty candidate Mary Ann Bersamin wants that the police officials detailed in Abra Province be replaced as she claims that they are doing nothing on the “rampant vote buying” being openly done by some local candidates in cahoots with barangay officials among others.
Bersamin accused the police of giving protection to politicians who are buying votes in Abra. She said that she talked to the chief of police in Bangued and they agreed that police should disperse the people lining up at the houses of Barangay captains, where P3,000 is allegedly being given in exchange for votes for a particular candidate. “I am calling on the police here in Abra, I hope that you will be replaced,” Bersamin said in a phone interview with the media.
The mayoralty race in Bangued is a three-cornered fight among Bersamin, former mayor Ryan Luna and incumbent vice mayor Mila Valera. Mila is the wife of incumbent mayor Dominic Valera who is running for governor and mother of incumbent Abra governor Jocelyn Bernos who is running for vice governor.
She said the police did not do anything, instead it seems that they are even guarding the
vote buying stations as evidence by some video footages that were taken by concerned citizens in the residences of some barangay captains who had been distributing money to the voters.
In her official Facebook account, Bersamin posted photos and videos of what she called vote “buying stations” with the caption: Kayo pa ang nagbabantay ng buying station nila. AFP and PNP nasaan na ang dignidad ninyo?
Bersamin urged the people of Bangued to vote wisely for the betterment of their town and province as a whole.
“My message to Banguedenos, I know some of you received money because of poverty and fear, but do not forget, they are the reason why our province is in poverty, this is the time for us to turn this situation around, we should not allow poverty and fear to continue,” Bersamin said in Ilokano.
Bersamin will consult with her lawyers for possible filing of an election complaint against all those involved in the rampant vote buying being done not only in the capital town but also in the different parts of the province as well as those who are serving as security officers of those involved in the election fraud.
Sources in the province disclosed that rampant vote buying started way back since the filing of the certificates of candidacy of those that are aspiring for the various elected positions and that the same had continue and is now becoming rampant as the election is just around the corner to ensure the victory of those that are in power and who want to prolong their stay in power.
In the past, Abra has been tagged as the killing fields of the north because of the numerous election-related violence and incidents that caused the untimely demise of innocent politicians and their supports.
At present, the Commission on election (Comelec) is studying the possibility of placing Abra under its control to avert the occurrence e of untoward incidents that may lead to loss of lives and inflict damage to property due to the intensed political rivalry among politicians and their supporters.
