City of San Fernando, Pampanga (CSFP) Mayor Vilma Caluag sought bail proceedings, April 16, Wednesday, in response to alleged vote-buying charges during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
“[Katatapos] lang po natin, sumunod po tayo sa lahat ng proseso ng ating batas, at [nakapagpiyansa] na po tayo, at pabalik na po tayo ng Pampanga,” Caluag said in a Facebook livestream following bail proceedings.
Issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on April 8, the charges stem from a complaint filed by a certain “Alvin Garcia,” alleging that cash payouts were distributed to residents of Barangay Dolores on October 17, 2023, during the BSKE campaigning period.
“Mayroong pong pagbibigay ng mga cash payout for sanitation program ng Dolores ng City of San Fernando, [at] ito ay ang pagbibigay ng state resources,” COMELEC Region III Assistant Regional Director Elmo Duque, who lodged the criminal case referencing a breach of the anti-vote buying provision of the Omnibus Election Code, said on April 8.
Named also in the complaint are Caluag’s husband, Melchor Caluag and Julmar Mercado, then running for barangay captain and councilor respectively—both of whom were accused of allegedly giving out P1,500 each to the event’s attendees.
