Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested on Monday, Feb. 10, three people who claimed to have connections with the Information Technology (IT) system of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for allegedly demanding P90 million from two local candidates in Cagayan province in exchange for their victory in the May 12 polls.
CIDG director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the arrested suspects as an official and staff of a Parañaque City-based IT company which claims to be connected with the Comelec and maintain access with the automated result of the election.
He said four other officials and staff of the company were able to escape during the payment phase of the entrapment and are now being hunted down by the CIDG operatives.
Torre said the mayoralty and vice mayoralty candidates of a town in Cagayan were forced to seek police assistance as the suspects are the same people who offered their services in the past two elections.
In both the elections, police said the two Cagayan local candidates lost their bid and this was used by the suspects as ‘proof’ in convincing the two local bets that they could manipulate the result of the elections.
With the guidance of CIDG operatives, Torre said the two candidates agreed to meet with the suspects in a mall in Marikina City where the initial payment of the demand would be given.
After the boodle money covered with P1,000 bills was given as initial payment, Torre said his men went to the area and announced the arrest.
A follow-up operation was conducted at the office of the suspects in Parañaque City but the other suspects were able to escape before the policemen arrived.
“When the other suspects noticed the delay in their transaction, they opted to cut their communication with the other arrested suspects and remained at-large,” Torre said.
The arrested suspects are now under CIDG custody and are facing criminal charges along with their companions who escaped.
