People power in Mati stops vote buying activity (6 p.m.)
Posted on May 14, 2007
Filed Under News |
Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY — Close to a thousand supporters of Mati mayoral candidate Michelle Rabat and Davao Oriental gubernatorial candidate Corazon Malanyaon surrounded a rice warehouse in Mati Monday afternoon after receiving reports that sacks of rice are being distributed to supporters of incumbent Governor Ma. Elena Palma Gil.
Richard Villacorte, aide to Mayor Francisco Rabat, said Rabat and Malanyaon’s supporter surrounded the East Coast Trading store owned by one Adelina Aponesto starting two in the afternoon Monday after they received reports that there was distribution of rice there.
Villacorte said about 50 supporters of Gil are still holed up inside the store and could not get out for fear that they would be lynched by the crowd. The supporters are reportedly from the Magsaysay area in Mati.
He said their lawyers are now working to secure a search warrant so they could get inside the store and get evidence of the alleged vote-buying activity there.
Villacorte said they already have video footage of the sacks of rice piled inside the compound of Aponesto. He said their supporters will remain barricading the area until such time that Aponesto admit giving rice to Palma Gil supporters.
It was learned that police authorities were already in the area. But Villacorte said they do not trust the police there and will remain vigilant to ensure that their political foes could not cheat.
In a text message, Gov Gil denied any hand in the alleged vote-buying saying she and her entire family are in Cateel town. (Sun.Star Davao)
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