POLL PREPS. Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino (left) and Felony Investigation and Detection Group Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre maintain a press convention at Camp Crame on Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2025). They mentioned preparations for the Could 12 elections. (PNA photograph by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA, Philippines – The Felony Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) mentioned Tuesday its operatives have arrested three individuals claiming to be Info Know-how (IT) specialists with connections to the Fee on Elections (Comelec).
In a press convention at Camp Crame in Quezon Metropolis, CIDG Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III mentioned the suspects tried to extort P90 million from two candidates in Enrile, Cagayan, in alternate for his or her victory within the Could 12 polls.
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Torre mentioned Enrile, Cagayan mayoral candidate Robert Turingan and her daughter, vice mayoral candidate Karen Kaye Tavas Turingan, have been pressured to hunt police help because the suspects have been the identical individuals who provided their providers previously two elections.
“Nireklamo na sila nitong dalawang complainants natin (These two complainants approached us already) as a result of (within the) 2019 and 2022 elections, they’d already offered themselves to them however they’d not availed the providers of those individuals,” Torre mentioned.
He mentioned Turingan and his daughter misplaced in each elections, and the suspects used this as proof to persuade the 2 candidates that they may manipulate election outcomes.
Torre mentioned the suspects allegedly work in a Parañaque Metropolis-based IT firm that claims to be related with the Comelec and maintains entry to the automated results of the election.
He mentioned 4 different officers and employees of the corporate escaped throughout an entrapment operation in a mall in Marikina Metropolis.
A follow-up operation was carried out on the suspects’ workplace in Parañaque Metropolis, however the staff fled earlier than the policemen arrived.
The arrested suspects at the moment are below CIDG custody and are dealing with legal fees.
Torre tagged the group as “skilled scammers” who use a bodily IT resolution workplace to make their scheme extra plausible.
“They’ve this type of affect they’re peddling, and that they can manipulate the machines, they are going to have the ability to manipulate the personnel working these machines and lots of different schemes that, after all, are unfaithful,” Torre mentioned.
Not related
In the identical press convention, Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino denied the suspects’ connection to the ballot physique.
“We have already got a certification from the personnel division that these individuals usually are not within the checklist of staff of the Comelec,” Ferolino mentioned.
She assured the integrity of the Could 12 midterm elections, noting that the ballot outcomes can’t in any method be manipulated.
Ferolino urged the candidates to be cautious in opposition to such schemes.
Torre mentioned an investigation is underway to find out whether or not the group’s operation has reached the Visayas and Mindanao.
In an interview with reporters, the older Turingan mentioned the group approached him throughout the marketing campaign interval within the 2019 midterm elections.
He, nevertheless, didn’t entertain the group as he believed he would win, having served as Enrile city mayor in 1992. He misplaced his 2019 election bid.
Turingan mentioned the group approached them once more within the 2022 elections, bragging that they helped Turingan’s rival win the 2019 elections.
He admitted that he paid the group P5 million however solely to cease them from meddling within the political affairs of the municipality. The suspects have been initially asking for P90 million.
Turingan misplaced once more within the 2022 polls.
“Ngayon, lumapit ulit sila sa amin, P90million ulit ang hinihingi, una nagbigay ako ng P500,000 then P2 million pero para lang painan sila para mahuli na sila (Now they got here to us once more, asking for PHP90 million once more. I initially gave P500,000, then P2 million however it was simply to bait and catch them),” he mentioned.
“Ngayon, kahit hindi na ako manalo sa election, panalo pa rin ako kasi naipahuli ko sila (Now even when I don’t win the election, I’m nonetheless a winner as a result of I had them arrested).”
Apolitical
In the meantime, Philippine Nationwide Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil assured that the PNP would stay apolitical and neutral and dedicated solely to sustaining peace and order.
“The PNP stands agency in its dedication to professionalism, neutrality, and repair to the Filipino individuals,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Marbil mentioned the PNP management doesn’t and would by no means condone political partisanship inside its ranks.
“Our officers have sworn to serve the general public, not political pursuits. Any declare on the contrary is way from the reality,” he added.
He mentioned police personnel discovered participating in partisan politics would face critical penalties, “together with doable dismissal, in accordance with current insurance policies and laws.” (PNA)
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