Another PH mayor disqualified for buying votes

MANILA - The Commission on Elections is disqualifying another elected official for vote-buying. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll body's First Division found that Roxas, Isabela Mayor Benedict Calderon committed vote-buying prior to the May elections, according to a complaint from a voter. Last week, the Comelec also disqualified Norzagaray, Bulacan Mayor and Liberal Party member Alfredo Germar for the same election violation. Brillantes said the Comelec does not consider political affiliations when it looks into cases against elected officials. "Namimigay ng mga bigas, baboy na buhay...vote buying means giving anything of value. Instead of giving money, sako-sakong bigas. Sa probinsya ganun ang vote-buying," he said. "Aside from the disqualification, ang decision ng Comelec will also include to prosecute them criminally...in addition to the administrative case." Mornings@ANC, October 8, 2013