The Nationwide Bureau of Investigation presents to the media on Friday, Could 9, the six people arrested for plotting to control the automated counting machines supposedly to make sure the victory of a mayoral candidate. Photograph by the Nationwide Bureau of Investigation.
MANILA, Philippines — Six people have been arrested by the Nationwide Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for plotting to control the automated counting machines (ACMs) that will supposedly guarantee victory of a mayoral candidate in trade for P30 million.
The NBI stated that the arrest stemmed from the Comelec data relating to Iba, Zambales mayoral candidate Atty. Genaro Montefalcon who was supplied the “service” in April 2025. The suspects, introduced to the media on Friday, have been recognized as: Roland Ucab; Teody Abalos; Joseph Ong; Cherrylyn Adriano; Ralp Edward Salas; and Francis James Mapua.
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After approaching Montefalcon final month, NBI stated that Abalos and Adriano “claimed connections inside the Fee on Elections (Comelec) and supplied to safe his victory within the upcoming Could 12 elections by manipulating the Automated Counting Machines, for a charge of P30 million.”
“Abalos additional claimed to have a direct reference to the earlier COMELEC chairman, stating that he’s the nephew of senator-candidate Benhur Abalos and a grandson of former COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos,” the NBI famous in an announcement.
The NBI additional stated that Montefalcon grew to become skeptical of the provide and instantly reported the incident to the Comelec. An entrapment operation was carried out on Thursday after the ballot physique relayed the knowledge to the NBI Olongapo District Workplace.
The NBI stated that Montefalcon, underneath the guise of accepting the provide, met with the suspects in a resort the place he was informed to pay for a downpayment of P15 million and the remaining quantity after the elections. The topics have been arrested after Montefalcon handed over the cash.
The suspects are going through fees for violating Article 177 and 315 of the Revised Penal Code, and Part 28 of the Republic Act No. 9369 or the Automated Election System Act.
In a separate incident, the Comelec not too long ago filed fees of usurpation of authority and falsification of public paperwork in opposition to three people claiming to be ballot physique workers who wished to examine ACMs in an elementary college in Laguna.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia earlier warned that these techniques to intervene within the midterm elections are unauthorized by the ballot physique and simply goal to deceive and milk cash from candidates.
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