DUE TO lack of probable cause, the Laoag City Prosecutor’s Office has denied the motion for reconsideration for a case it earlier dismissed filed against three alleged supporters of re-elected Laoag Mayor Michael V. Fariñas for violation of Article XXII of the Omnibus Election Coder, or vote buying. Assistant city prosecutor David Frez, with the corresponding approval of city prosecutor Angel G. Rubio denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Rogelio Santos and Bienvenido Dizon against Genaro Mariano, Casimiro Liberato and Zaldy Cabacungan, all residents of Barangay 32-C La Paz, Laoag City. Based on the joint sworn statement of the complainants dated May 10, 2007, an alleged rampant vote buying was conducted in Barangay 32-C La Paz on May 4, 2007 by the respondents, whom they alleged were barangay leaders of Fariñas. In the “Karagdagang Sinumpaang Salaysay” executed by the complainants, they averred that they were a few meters away from the respondents whom they said were letting people affix their signatures in a voter’s list in exchange for money. The complainants added that when they accosted the respondents, they voluntarily admitted that what they were doing was prohibited. But the City Prosecutor’s Office said the conversation alone between the complainants and the respondents were not enough that vote buying or vote selling was made. “If there was no other person in the terrace other than the respondents, then who was selling his vote? The allegations of the complainant in their motion for reconsideration and supporting documents are mere speculations that cannot be given any weight as evidence,” the prosecutor’s office resolution stated. The alleged vote buying was supposed to have been conducted at the terrace of the residence of former Barangay Chairman Genaro Mariano. “The credibility therefore of the complainant and Bienvenido Dizon is questionable for them at this time to execute the ‘Karagdagang Sinumpaang Salaysay” making allegations of overhearing conversations made, when complainant and his witness did not do so after they were given all the opportunity to clarify and make declarations under oath of evidence in relation to their complaint. “Foregoing considered and without any cogent reasons to disturb the resolution of this office dated May, 2007, the motion for reconsideration is hereby denied,” the resolution concluded. Reacting to this, Fariñas said the issue was purely politics and he is not even sure if the respondents were really his supporters as he said that of the 31,714 people who voted for him in the recently concluded elections, he could not distinguish who they really are. However, he also took the opportunity to once again thank the people of Laoag for supporting his bid to win another three-year term. Dominic B. dela Cruz
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