The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested six individuals in an entrapment operation who allegedly offered to rig the vote-counting machine in Iba, Zambales, to ensure the victory of a mayoral candidate.
NBI agents caught the suspects in an entrapment operation at a hotel in Quezon City on May 8.
The alleged election rigging attempt in Iba, Zambales began when mayoral candidate Atty. Genaro Montefalcon reported that the group offered to manipulate the results of the upcoming mayoral race in his favor.
According to a press release from the National Bureau of Investigation, Montefalcon was first approached in April by two individuals—Teody Abalos and Cherrylyn Adriano—who claimed to have high-level contacts within the Commission on Elections. In exchange for P30 million, the duo allegedly promised to guarantee Montefalcon’s victory by tampering with the vote-counting process.
Abalos further tried to bolster his credibility by reportedly claiming to have direct ties to Comelec Chair George Garcia and mentioned his connections to influential political figures, saying he was the nephew of senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos and the grandson of former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos.
Montefalcon alerted the Comelec about the group’s offer, prompting the poll body to refer the matter to the NBI. In response, the NBI Special Task Force launched an entrapment operation to catch the suspects red-handed.
During a scheduled meeting at a hotel in Quezon City, the suspects allegedly demanded a down payment of ₱15 million. As soon as Montefalcon handed over the marked money, NBI agents moved in.
Three suspects were arrested in the hotel lobby, while the remaining three were apprehended inside one of the hotel rooms.
The individuals arrested were identified as Roland Ucab, Teody Abalos, Joseph Ong, Cherrylyn Adriano, Ralp Edward Salas, and Francis James Mapua.
Authorities said the group faces multiple charges, including estafa, usurpation of authority, and violations of the Automated Election System Law.
