The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division has disqualified a barangay chairman and seven councilmen in Negros Occidental for vote-buying during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in 2023.

The decision against the officials of Barangay Marcelo in the Municipality of Calatrava was released on December 18, 2024.

The disqualified officials are Barangay Chairman Arnulfo Siblag Libodlibod and Kagawads Eddy Monterde, Joel Rosello, Hernane Cabugwas, Jeremias Diotay, Elmor Marcelo, Richard Diotay, and Prescila Patajo.

“Disqualified sila by virtue of vote-buying. Itong kasong napagdesisyunan ng division was purely disqualification. May election offense pa na ako ang nag-i-investigate,” said Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, election officer of COMELEC Negros Occidental.

The case filed against the barangay officials have been supported by documents on vote-buying, COMELEC also said.

Aside from this, COMELEC conducted an ongoing investigation on other pending election offenses that involve the barangay officials.

According to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Negros Occidental, the said officials have remained in office, following an appeal on the COMELEC decision.

In the issuance of a final decision on the disqualification case, the town mayor has the authority to choose replacements of the disqualified officials.

“In this case, it should be supposedly recommended by the Sangguniang Barangay to be appointed by the Municipal Mayor. Not necessarily ang mga losing candidates. It should be anybody in the barangay,” DILG Negros Occidental Director Teodora Sumagaysay said.

COMELEC has urged voters to immediately report aspirants in the 2025 Midterm Elections in May who are engaged in vote-buying, whether done through money or through certain favors in exchange for votes.