6 nabbed in P30-M vote-rigging scheme targeting Zambales poll bet
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SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Six individuals who allegedly offered to manipulate voting machines to secure the victory of a mayoral candidate in Iba, the provincial capital of Zambales, were arrested in an entrapment operation on Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation reported.
The suspects were identified as Roland Ucab, Teody Abalos, Joseph Onga, Cherrylyn Adriano, Ralph Edward Salas and Francis James Mapua.
According to the NBI, Iba mayoral candidate Genaro Montefalcon was approached by Abalos and Adriano, who claimed they had high-level contacts within the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and offered to guarantee his win in exchange for P30 million.
Abalos reportedly claimed to have direct ties to Comelec Chair George Garcia, citing his alleged familial connections, as allegedly being a nephew of Senate aspirant Benhur Abalos and a grandson of former Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos.
Montefalcon, sensing it was a scheme, reported the incident to the poll body and submitted screenshots of their conversations. Comelec then referred the case to the NBI, which launched an entrapment operation on Thursday.
During the sting, Montefalcon and undercover agents met with Adriano, Abalos and Onga in a hotel lobby in Quezon City.
The suspects allegedly demanded a down payment of P15 million, with the remaining balance to be settled after the election.
Later, Ucab, Salas and Mapua met Montefalcon in a hotel room, where the money was handed over.
NBI agents then moved in and placed all six suspects under arrest. They were informed of their constitutional rights and subjected to standard booking procedures at the Special Task Force Office.
The suspects are facing charges of “estafa” under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, usurpation of authority under Article 177 and violation of Section 28 of Republic Act No. 9369 or the Automated Election System Law.
