ILOILO – Some midterm election local candidates were reportedly distributing bihon, coffee, sardines, and even thermometer in the municipalities of Miag-ao and Igbaras in the 1st District, according to Police Brigadier General John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director.
Bulalacao said the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) was sent a photo of these items by a “concerned citizen.”
The police director, however, did not pass judgment on the matter.
“It depends on the Commission on Elections,” said Bulalacao during a press conference yesterday. “Kasi kami naman we will be just apprehending. We will be providing the Comelec our arrest affidavit kapag may nahuli kami and then it’s up to the Comelec whether to file charges or not.”
Citing the photo the PRO-6 received, Bulalacao said the items were labeled “Garin and Biron sinasabi dito sa report.”
The photo was also going the rounds on social media, specifically Facebook.
When pressed further who he was referring to, Bulalacao said, “Ang nakikita doon Ferj Biron at Tingting Garin sa mga pictures, at ewan ko kung sample ballots ‘yun. ‘Di ko maintindihan.”
Vice Gov. Christine “Tingting” Garin and Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District are running mates for vice governor and governor, respectively.
Sought for his reaction to Bulalacao’s statements, Biron told Panay News, “I don’t know what he talked about.”
“Unless he accuses me directly with evidence then I will be bound to react,” according to Biron.
Garin, on the other hand, was yet respond as of this writing to calls and text inquiries regarding Bulalacao’s statements./PN
