Two of the three candidates who ran in the FICELCO special elections last Saturday in Bato town allegedly gave money to member-consumers in exchange for their votes.
According to several sources, the camps of Salvacion T. Lee of Libod and former Councilor Pedro T. Vergara Jr. reportedly bought votes of member-consumer-owners (MCOs) qualified to vote in the political exercise to replace outgoing Director Rodolfo Vargas.
The third candidate, former Tamburan barangay chairman Romeo T. Soria Jr. was not mentioned in the reports.
Four originally expressed interest in the post but gasoline station owner Nelson Marino was disqualified as his boarding house in Calatagan Proper in Virac was disconnected from the grid due to non-payment of electric bills by his boarders last November 2025.
One photograph sent to the Tribune showed what appears to be a campaign leaflet of Lee and P150 in bills placed inside a sealed brown envelope.
Official results released by the FICELCO District Election Committee showed Lee topping the special election with a total of 918 votes, just four votes ahead of Vergara’s 914.
Soria was a far third with just 195 votes, the election tally sheet showed.