Comelec says 2 Bohol candidates facing DQ cases for alleged vote-buying
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Residents are waiting for their turn to cast their votes at Tagbilaran City Central School on Monday in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Monday, May 12. – Leo Udtohan/Philippine Daily Inquirer
TAGBILARAN CITY – Two poll candidates in Bohol are facing disqualification cases for alleged vote buying.
Separate petitions for disqualification were filed on Sunday, May 11, against Rep. Edgardo Migriño Chatto of Bohol’s first district and first congressional district candidate John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The petition against Chatto was filed by Bohol residents Sylvia Nistal Matig-a of Dauis, Vir Joshua Malubay of Calape, and Jose Pizarras Mascariñas of Loon, through their legal counsel lawyer Mark Dave Josol.
According to their petition, some individuals distributed envelopes containing P1,000 bills each and stapled to campaign flyers bearing the message, “1 Chatto Edgar Congressman.”
The materials, which were submitted to the Comelec as annexed evidence, were allegedly handed out with the message written in the vernacular: “Don’t forget the Congressman.”
The petition cites Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits vote-buying, defining it as the act of offering or giving money or anything of value to induce voters to support a particular candidate.
Section 68 stated that any candidate found to have engaged in such electoral offenses should be disqualified.
“This act is a blatant form of vote-buying and a grave threat to our democratic processes,” the petitioners said in their sworn affidavits attached to the complaint.
“We are filing this not only to uphold the integrity of the elections but also to ensure that future elections are free from coercion and corruption,” they added.
Chatto, a veteran politician and former governor of Bohol, is seeking reelection in the May 12, 2025 midterm polls.
He has yet to release a public statement regarding the allegations.
Yap, for his part, was also accused of vote-buying.
Petitioners Sylvia Nistal Matig-a, James Manhilot Pizarras, Christopher Rollorata Lunzaga, and Melchor Bonhayag Tangcawan alleged that on May 11, individuals distributed cash ranging from P100 to P1,000 stapled to campaign materials bearing the names of “4 John Geesnell Yap, Baba Congressman First District.”
The distributors reportedly urged recipients, “Don’t forget the Congressman,”
Yap said he would issue a statement regarding the accusations as soon as he gets a copy of the complaint. /MR
