Ni JANTZEN ALVIN
Nasampolan ang dalawang kandidato para sa midterm polls sa Mayo nang diniskuwalipika sila ng Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Ayon sa dalawang desisyon na ibinahagi kagabi ni Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, nabatid na ang mga kandidatong diniskuwalipika sa eleksiyon ay sina Matt Erwin Florido na kumakandidato sa pagka-kongresista sa Ikatlong Distrito ng Quezon Province at si Ronald Alarkon Rodriguez, na kandidato naman sa pagka-gobernador sa Camarines Sur.
Sa desisyon ng Comelec First Division, nabatid na si Florido ay diniskuwalipika sa halalan dahil sa umano’y vote-buying o pamimili ng boto.
Sa 13-pahinang resolusyon ng Comelec, inihayag ng mga petitioners na mga residente ng bayan ng Buenavista na inimbitahan sila ni Florido sa isang pagtitipon sa Catanauan noong Abril 5 at 6 kung saan binigyan sila ng libreng transportasyon at pagkain.
“Petitioners aver that the free transportation, meals, drinks, t-shorts, and P1,000.00 bill are clearly intended to induce and influence the voters’ choice and secure support…. The timing clearly illustrates a direct quid pro quo: an exchange of material inducement in return for electoral support,” anang resolusyon.
Mariin namang itinanggi ni Florido, na kasalukuyang alkalde ng General Luna, ang alegasyon at sinabing ang mga petitioners ay campaign volunteers na malaya at boluntaryong nagsagawa ng ground campaign para sa kanya, nang walang inaasahang bayad o kapalit.
Ani Florido, ang P1,000 cash na ibinigay sa mga ito ay cash advance/operating expense para pondohan ang mga gastusin ng mga ito bilang volunteers, na may kasamang tungkulin na isaulit ang mga ito kung hindi nila magagastos.
Gayunman, hindi pinakinggan ng Comelec ang pahayag ni Florido at sinabing may sapat na ebidensiya laban sa kanya.
“In sum, the Commission (First Division) finds, by substantial evidence, the Respondent committed vote-buying meriting his disqualification under Section 68(a) of OEC (Omnibus Election Code),” anang desisyon.
“Accordingly, the Commission (First Division) grants the Petition to Disqualify Respondent Matt Erwin V. Florido as a candidate for the position of Member, House of Representatives, Third District, Quezon Province for the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections,” ayon pa sa desisyon.
Samantala, nabatid na kinansela naman ng Comelec First Division ang certificate of candidacy (COC) ni Rodriguez dahil sa umano’y misrepresentasyon.
Nag-ugat ang desisyon sa reklamo ng mga petitioners na nagsabing nagsinungaling si Rodriguez nang sabihing siya ay residente ng Pamon Village, Palestina, Pili, Camarines Sur ng wala pang halos isang taon, bago ang halalan, gayung siya ay residente ng Aeroville Subdivision, San Felipe, Naga City, at nananatili umanong residente doon.
Mariin naman itong pinabulaanan ng Respondent ngunit nagdesisyon ang Comelec na hindi nito na-meet ang requirements para sa bagong tahanan o permanent residency sa pagkandidato.
“The denial of due course to and cancellation of a candidate’s COC under Section 78 in relation to Section 74 of the OEC is premised on the ground that there was deliberate attempt to mislead, misinform and hide the true state of his residence, which would otherwise render him ineligible,” anang Comelec.
“In light of the above discussions, Respondent, not having met all the requisites to effectively elect a new domicile of choice, deliberately indicated Pili, Camarines Sur as his domicile, when, in truth and in fact, he is still a resident of Naga City—his established domicile,” anito pa. “Thus, by indicating Pili, Camarines Sur as his residence in his COC despite not being effectively domiciled therein, to make himself eligible as a candidate for Governor of Camarines Sur, Respondent committed material misrepresentation meriting the cancellation of his COC.”
“Accordingly, the Commission (First Division) GRANTS the Petition to Deny Due Course to the Certificate of Candidacy of Ronald Alarkon Rodriguez for Governor of Camarines Sur. Consequently, the Certificate of Candidac y of the Respondent is CANCELLED AND DENIED DUE COURSE on the ground of material misrepresentation under Section 74 in relation to Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code,” ayon pa sa Comelec.
