THE city elections office challenged anyone who has evidence to show that there were vote-buying cases in the just concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections here to come out in the open and show the evidence.

City Elections Officer Remarquee Ravanzo said his office received numerous reports of alleged vote-buying, giving him and his staff sleepless nights on Sunday as they had to verify whether these allegations were true.

He said no evidence was found except for a follower of an incumbent candidate for kagawad in barangay Tambac who was reportedly caught buying votes on the day of the election. He did not identify the person.

Ravanzo said the suspect will be charged in court and if convicted, he can be meted imprisonment of from one year to six years.

He said he was informed that the suspected vote-buyer was arrested by the police while they were patrolling in barangay Tambac.

Hopefully, this will be the first person to be charged for vote-buying in Dagupan City, he said.

Ravanzo admitted that there were many reports about alleged vote-buying prompting him and his staff to verify first-hand the acts complained of but did not catch anyone in the act.

Nevertheless, the election in Dagupan was peaceful and orderly without any untoward incident. (PNA)