Retired judge files IBP complaint over alleged vote buying

Retired judge Soliman M. Santos Jr. and his wife, Paz M. Santos, filed a complaint with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Camarines Sur Chapter regarding an alleged vote-buying incident on Saturday, May 10.

The couple received identification cards from their village association that contained personal information and were associated with winning candidates Lray Villafuerte Jr., Sal Fortuno Jr., and Nonoy Magtuto.

Santos questioned the legitimacy of these 'Voter Education ID' cards, noting that they appeared to be part of a vote-buying scheme involving cash payments in exchange for voter identification cards.

The couple highlighted that the distribution of these IDs violated data privacy laws and suggested it was an attempt to create a sense of indebtedness among voters.

They submitted their joint affidavit to the IBP's 'Kontra-Bigay Complaint Center,' which will forward the case to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Camarines Sur for further action.

As of May 10, Comelec Region V had already issued more than 40 show cause orders to candidates across the region for alleged vote-buying activities.