The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Friday the arrest of six individuals, who plotted to manipulate voting machines to secure the victory of a mayoral candidate from Iba, Zambales.
In a press briefing, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the arrest is a joint operation by the NBI-Olongapo District Office (NBI-OLDO) and the Special Task Force (NBI-STF).
The suspects allegedly posed as Comelec staffers and information technology (IT) experts, who offered their services to the local politician.
Lawyer Genaro Montefalcon, a mayoralty candidate of the town, reported to the Commission on Election (Comelec) the screenshots of their communications where the subjects offered a secured victory for a fee of P30-million.
Upon the referral by the Comelec, an entrapment operation was conducted on Thursday in a hotel in Quezon City. Santiago presented the suspects before members of the media at the NBI headquarters on Friday.
They are now facing charges of estafa, usurpation of authority, as well as violation of the Automated Election System Law.