80 alleged ‘flying voters’ arrested in Maguindanao del Sur

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Maguindanao del Sur map. INQUIRER FILES

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Police and military personnel arrested 80 men, including minors, in Buluan town, Maguindanao del Sur, early Monday morning after they allegedly admitted to being paid to vote in the area despite being residents of other provinces.

Col. Ryan Bobby Paloma, provincial police director, said the suspects were intercepted around 7 a.m. and brought to the Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office for investigation and documentation.

According to police, the group claimed they were recruited from General Santos City and Bukidnon province to vote in Buluan, which is under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control.

Authorities recovered a hand grenade, several election-related documents, bags of personal belongings, and metal bats from the suspects.

Former Maguindanao governor and mayoral candidate Esmael Mangudadatu posted on Facebook that the men were in possession of new voter registration records allegedly issued by the municipal election officer.

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