3 nabbed in Marikina over ‘selling victory’ scheme in 2025 polls

Authorities have arrested three individuals who allegedly posed as information technology specialists connected to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and offered election victories for sale ahead of the 2025 midterm polls.

The Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) launched an entrapment operation in Marikina City after receiving a complaint from Cagayan mayoral candidate Robert Turingan and vice mayoral candidate Karen Kaye Tavas Turingan. The candidates claimed the suspects promised them a guaranteed win in exchange for P90 million.

The suspects were caught after receiving the marked money used in the sting operation. Authorities also recovered a brown envelope containing one genuine P1,000 bill mixed with boodle money, identification cards, mobile phones, and a vehicle. Meanwhile, four other suspects remain at large.

The CIDG stated that the suspects will face charges under the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, including robbery with intimidation or violence and robbery extortion.

In a separate development, two other suspects were subjected to an entrapment operation in February in connection with a robbery-hold-up group targeting online sellers of golf and jewelry. According to the CIDG, the suspects became aware of the entrapment, leading to an armed confrontation before they were arrested and neutralized.