CHARGED. Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) director, on Tuesday (May 21, 2019) says cases of vote buying and illegal possession of firearms were filed against the offenders in the recent mid-term elections. He said cases were filed regardless of the political ties of the suspects, a manifestation that the police do not favor any political candidate or party. (File photo)
ILOILO CITY -- The police regional director of Western Visayas (Region 6) on Tuesday assured that cases of vote buying during the recent mid-term elections were filed against offenders in the towns of Iloilo Province and in Negros Occidental.
Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, PRO 6 regional director, assured that cases of vote buying were filed against offenders in the towns of Lambunao, Barotac Nuevo and Calinog in Iloilo; and in Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental.
“The case has been filed and it’s now up to the prosecutors to resolve the issue,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
Cases were also filed against Milky Lira, village chief of Jaboyo, Lambunao town for violating the election gun ban.
A few minutes before the May 13 elections, 12 village watchmen in Jaboyo were collared for brandishing firearms and staging a check-point at the village's entry point.
Reports said Lira is an ally of mayoralty candidate Reynor Gonzales as the village watchmen claimed that the checkpoint was established to prevent the harassment from another political party.
“I want to emphasize that this (Lira) is an alleged supporter of the Defensors,” Bulalacao said.
He stressed that the filing of cases against Lira is an indication that the police do not favor any political candidate, contrary to the allegations that Bulalacao only sides with the Defensor clan.
Incumbent Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.’s son Arthur Jr. won against Fourth District Rep. Ferjenel Biron in the gubernatorial race.
Bulalacao said he will not file a case against Lemuel Fernandez, Biron’s chief of staff.
“I wanted to file a case against Mr. Fernandez for his allegations but I should be mature enough to refrain myself from creating enemies,” he said, adding that Fernandez’ allegations of him favoring the Defensors is a “manifestation of an irresponsible individual and childish-attitude individual”.
As an individual and as commander of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bulalacao said that he is consistent in his principle of being fair to everyone – regardless of their political ties. (PNA)
