Report: Fake money spreads in Capiz province

Fake money has started to spread in Capiz province in Western Visayas and threatens to mar the first automated elections there. A report on dzXL quoted Roxas City election officer lawyer Jomar Betita as saying that local voters had reported the incident to him. Betita said some voters went to his office bringing with them counterfeit P1,000 bills placed inside envelopes. He did not name the candidates supposedly behind the fake money. On the other hand, a village chief in Cebu province was arrested last weekend over an alleged attempt to buy votes from local residents in exchange for P20. The Philippine National Police on Sunday said a team of soldiers discovered the supposed bribe money in the possession of Germinigildo Edimne, captain of Canghumaod village in Dumanjug town. Central Visayas police director Chief Superintendent Lani-O Nerez said a team of soldiers led by 1Lt. Meriales chanced on Edimne with village councilor Felix Calago sitting on a bamboo bench, with bundles of money beside them. According to the PNP, Edimne admitted he got the money from an independent candidate running for town councilor in Dumanjug. The bundles of money included 50 pieces of P20 bills, with a sticker that read "Belinda Quirante for councilor"; 50 P20 bills with clippings for councilor Iluminado Perales; and 50 pieces P20 bills with a sticker bearing the name of councilor Cardo Condes. Also found were two pieces of yellow pad paper containing 125 names of voters; and 110 white envelopes with P150 each. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV