MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied having connections with three men who were recently arrested for allegedly offering candidates a “sure win” in the local elections in exchange for millions of pesos.
According to Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco, the scheme is nothing new and is definitely a scam to dupe candidates who wish to win in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Budol ito. Sigurado doon isa matatalo, sigurado doon isa mananalo. Pag nanalo ang isa, sasabihan ‘ako dahilan bakit nanalo yan’. Sasabihin sa kabila, ‘kita mo natalo ka hindi ka lumapit sa akin’,” Laudiangco said.
Laudiangco advised poll candidates to use their funds for their campaigns, instead of patronizing scams.
The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) nabbed three men in an entrapment operation while offering a father and his son guaranteed wins in the 2025 elections in exchange for P90 million.
The suspects introduced themselves as information technology (IT) experts. They also said they have connections with the Comelec and that they can manipulate the poll results.
“Meron silang ‘opisina’. Meron silang mga props nakita natin. Pero ang capacity noon para i-hack ang servers ng Comelec. I don’t think they can do that,” said Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, PNP-CIDG acting director.
Meanwhile, the Comelec said it did not find the candidates who were talking to the arrested scammers legally responsible for having transactions with the suspects.
“Naiintindihan ko po ang side ng kandidato in as much as we don’t have a law penalizing them. Hindi kasi yan gaya ng vote buying na direkta sa voter,” said Commissioner Aimee Ferolino./PN
