Cagayan de Oro First District Rep. Lordan Suan has denied allegations he orchestrated the disqualification case filed against his rival, Barangay Carmen Chairman Raineir Joaquin Uy, before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The COMELEC’s law department filed a disqualification case against Uy over his alleged involvement in the supposed irregular surge of voter registrants in the barangay.

Uy claimed that Suan was behind the case because of the letter sent by Suan to COMELEC.

Suan admitted sending the letter but only to question the increase in the number of transferred and new voters in Barangay Carmen.

“Ingon ana ka daghan ang nibalhin sa usa ka barangay huna hunaa murag ang tibuok voter sa Brgy. Kauswagan nibalhin sa Carmen ingon ana ang nahitabo. Ngano ako man e-blame nga ila mana binuhatan,” Suan said.

In a 16-page petition, COMELEC cited the unusual influx of application for voter registration using the barangay certification as identification document.

From more than 21,000 applications in Barangay Carmen, around 8,218 reportedly used the barangay certification.

The issuance of barangay certification or residence certificate allegedly did not go through proper verification.

For his part, Uy admitted issuing barangay certifications but said the issuance went through a proper process, contrary to the allegations of the COMELEC.

Suan said he was also surprised with the disqualification case and denied the allegation that he used his position and influence.

“Ang akong gusto raman unta nga dili makabotar ang dili taga dinhi sa atong distrito ang kay mabulabog man atong election sa first district kay gibinuangan na atong election process ana,” Suan added.

Uy’s camp hopes for a fair hearing of the case.

Uy is running for congressman against Suan in the First District in the 2025 midterm elections.