Former Hinoba-an Mayor and Negros Occidental Board Member, Nelson de los Reyes, yesterday said he has filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas against Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez and other officials for alleged involvement in fraud in the conduct of the election of directors of Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative.

Alvarez said he was not aware of the complaint and denied any involvement in vote-buying as claimed by de los Reyes.

“No money was given out,” he said.

“If we gave money out, why did de los Reyes win Barangay Gil Montilla, Sipalay, which is my barangay and that of Mayor Oscar Montilla?” Alvarez asked.

As to de los Reyes losing the NOCECO directorship, Alvarez said he should retire and accept that the people do not want him anymore.

Alvarez said he has been in government for 24 years, and de los Reye is giving him a taste of finally having a case before the Ombudsman for the first time.

His complaint is welcome, Alvarez said.

De los Reyes said that as an incumbent member of the NOCECO board, he sought reelection in District X comprising Sipalay City and Hinoba-an on Feb. 26, 2011 but lost due to vote- buying.

He alleged in his affidavit that the election was marked by fraud, deceit, corruption and tainted with bad faith perpetrated by elected officials and almost all barangay officials.

He said he was filing a complaint for fraud, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Prohibited acts and Transactions, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards, and the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 against all the elected officials mentioned in his affidavits sent to the Ombudsman for the welfare of the NOCECO member-consumers.*CPG

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