By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A newly-elected village chief in Negros Occidental’s Bago City could face disqualification and even possible criminal charges over “vote buying” allegations during the recently-held barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, elections supervisor of the Commission on Elections in Negros Occidental, said he had already submitted the formal complaint together with the complainant’s affidavit to their legal department.
He explained that because vote buying is an election-related offense, it requires a supporting affidavit.
There are now two formal complaints of vote buying in Negros Occidental, which include a candidate for village chief in San Enrique town.
Ananoria is hoping that his office will receive more complaints in relation to vote buying.
He said that even after the election, complaints can still be filed with their office, provided that they are not unreasonably delayed./DGB, WDJ