• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections 2nd Division disqualified a barangay chairman and five kagawads in Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, for vote buying during the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) held on October 30, 2023.
As published in the Comelec social media page, meted with the penalty of disqualification were barangay chairman Arnulfo Libodlibod, kagawads Eddy Monterde, Joel Rosello, Elmor Marcelo, Richard Diotay, and Prescila Patajo.
Two other respondents, Jeremias Diotay and Hernani Cabugwas, did not win in the 2023 BSKE elections.
The six respondents, who reportedly denied the allegations, were proclaimed winners in 2023.
Provincial Comelec Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria refused to elaborate the details of their disqualification, adding that the respondents are still facing election offenses which he is investigating.
Depending on the outcome of their investigations on the alleged election offenses, which are criminal offenses, Ananoria said the Department of Interior and Local Government will also decide on their fate.
He however said the respondents can still appeal the decision of the Comelec.
Ananoria further said that the disqualification of the concerned barangay officials indicates that the Comelec is serious in investigating complaints lodged against election law violators.*
