Vote-buying complaint filed vs Solid North party-list nominee

A resident of Abra filed a formal complaint against the first nominee of Solid North party-list over alleged vote-buying during an event of the Department of Education (DepEd) in February. 

The Commission on Elections received the complaint lodged by Herminio Zapata against Solid North party-list 1st nominee Menchie Bernos and a DepEd official of Abra on March 7, 2025.

In his eight-page complaint, Zapata accused Bernos of violating Sections 261(a) (1) (b) of the Omnibus Election Code during her attendance at the DepEd Education Summit in Abra on February 15. 

The complainant said Bernos, despite not being a DepEd official, was seen on the stage together with the official and other education personnel. 

Tarpaulins of Solid North party-list were also supposedly seen at the venue.

Further, Zapata said attendees allegedly received tumblers containing P3,000 in cash and bearing logos and official ballot number of the party-list during the event.

GMA Integrated News Online reached out to Bernos for comment and will publish her comment as soon as it is available.

Section 261(a) of the OEC states that, “any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party”.

Meanwhile, Section 261 (b) of the OEC penalizes conspiracy to bribe voters.—AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News

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