• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) 2nd Division has disqualified the chairman and five council members of Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental for vote buying.
The ruling is based on the complaint relative to the conduct of the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Oct. 30, 2023.
As published in the Comelec social media page, meted with disqualification were barangay chairman Arnulfo Libodlibod along with kagawads Eddy Monterde, Joel Rosello, Elmor Marcelo, Richard Diotay, and Prescila Patajo.
The two other respondents, Jeremias Diotay and Hernani Cabugwas, however, did not win.
The six respondents reportedly denied the allegations.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria did not elaborate on the details of the disqualification, adding that the respondents are still being investigated for election offenses.
Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Ananoria said the Department of the Interior and Local Government will also decide on their fate.
He said that the respondents can still file an appeal on the Comelec decision.
Ananoria noted that the disqualification of concerned barangay officials indicated that the Comelec is serious in investigating the complaints lodged against election law violators. | GB
