The police in the town of Bangued has documented an alleged vote-buying incident involving some residents of Lagayan, Abra.

The Abra Provincial Police Office (PPO) has received the report that several individuals received money and other items from members of a political party on 18 March at a resort in Bangued, Abra.

Fifteen residents of Barangay Collago, Lagayan, Abra, provided sworn statements regarding the incident to the Bangued police.

Based on the initial investigation, one of the complainants was contacted by a candidate for the Sangguniang Bayan in Lagayan, inviting her to listen to speeches by a local political party.

The complainant then invited her companions, and they proceeded to the resort in Bangued. There, they encountered candidates from the political group, including those running for mayor and vice mayor of Lagayan, as well as candidates for Congress, governor and vice governor.

According to the police report, the complainants claimed that after the candidates’ speeches, they and other attendees were each given P3,000, along with tarpaulins, T-shirts and hand sleeve covers bearing the name of a candidate.

The police also revealed that the complainants surrendered two ATM cards, which they had personally opened after being instructed by a member of the party. They were promised that money would be deposited into the accounts.

Earlier this week, the Commission on Elections, commenting on another alleged vote-buying incident, said it could not act on such complaints since the campaign period for local candidates has yet to commence.