Reelectionist Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron and incoming Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates, along with eight councilors face vote-buying complaint.
The vote-buying complaint against Bayron and Team Kuridas was filed by former mayor Edward Hagedorn at the city Commission on Elections on Monday afternoon, May 13.
Included in the list of respondents were winning councilors Atty. Nesario G. Awat, Jimmy Carbonell, Elgin Damasco, Herbert Dilig, Henry Gadiano, Matthew Mendoza, Victor Oliveros and Roy Ventura; councilor bets Rolando Amurao and Michael Tan; and newly proclaimed third district Congressman Gil Acosta Jr.
Stated in the complaint, Hagedorn received reports of various information related to massive vote-buying, vote-selling, coercion, harassment, intimidation and other election offenses in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
The allegations are supported by witnesses, videos, photos and voice recordings of public address.
Hagedorn is known to be a supporter of the opposing team, Team Aprub of mayoral bet Luis Marcaida III.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bayron told the media after his proclamation on Monday morning at the City Hall that they will leave the complaint to their lawyers.
Asked if there’s a chance for a reconciliation between the two parties, Bayron said that they have already tried twice. “Iyong pagfile nung complaint ‘di ba ibig sabihin na hindi sila talaga makikipagreconcile,” he explained.