3 suspects selling 'election win' for P90M arrested in Marikina

Three suspects claiming to be IT specialists connected to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) were nabbed in Marikina City for allegedly "selling victory" for Eleksyon 2025, the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Tuesday.

Enrile, Cagayan mayoral candidate Robert Turingan and vice mayoral candidate Karen Kaye Tavas Turingan reported the suspects to the CIDG after they were offered to win the elections in exchange for P90 million.

The suspects claimed to have access to the automated result of the elections.

The CIDG then conducted an entrapment operation where one of the complainants met with the suspects in a mall in Marikina City to hand over the payment.

When the suspects received the payment, the CIDG personnel responded and arrested the suspects.

Recovered from the suspects were a brown envelope containing one genuine P1,000 bill with the boodle money, identification cards, mobile phones, and a vehicle.

According to the CIDG, the suspects committed robbery with intimidation or violence/robbery extortion, violating the Revised Penal Code in relation with Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

The Comelec, meanwhile, warned candidates about such modus.

“Ang mga kandidato, paulit-ulit namin sinasabi, wag magtitiwala sa mga manloloko na yan. Makukuhanan lang kayo ng pera. Sa bandang huli, walang ibang dapat sisihin kundi kayo, hindi kami," said Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia.

(We are warning candidates against these kinds of schemes. You have no one else to blame but yourselves.)

"Dahil sinasabi na natin, hindi nila ppwedeng gawan ng paraan at hindi nila pupwede dayain ang halalan,” added Garcia.

(To reiterate, these fraudsters cannot change the results of the elections.)

--Joviland Rita with reports from Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News

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