Comelec probes Masbate poll exec over alleged failure to delist disqualified BSKE bet

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered an administrative investigation on an election officer in Aroroy, Masbate over alleged failure to delete the name of a disqualified candidate from the certified list of candidates for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Excerpt from the minutes of the poll body’s executive session on Wednesday showed that Magdie Moran, Election Officer IV of Aroroy, Masbate, was directed on October 25 to implement a resolution of the Commission En Banc that canceled the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Aniano Pancho Capinig for Punong Barangay of Barangay Cabas-an.

Comelec Second Division disqualified Capinig due to a previous conviction for violation of Section 31 of Republic Act No. 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms.

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco cited a portion of Comelec Second Division resolution dated October 9 that said that Capinig's "final judgment of conviction, for which he was sentenced to an offense with a penalty of more than eighteen months, disqualifies him from being a candidate in the 2023 BSKE."

However, the Comelec's Law Department said it received reports that the name of Capinig was not deleted, removed, or canceled from the certified list of candidates and that Moran "merely suspended his proclamation."

Capinig won for Barangay chairman of Barangay Cabas-an during the October 30 BSKE.

"It is undisputed that the COC (certificate of candidacy) of Mr. Capinig was administratively cancelled and his name should have been deleted/removed/cancelled in the Certified List of Candidates pursuant to Minute Resolution No. 23-0735," the Department said.

"However, EO Moran failed to implement the Resolution of the Commission En Banc and merely suspended the proclamation of Mr. Capinig despite having enough time to delete/remove/cancel his name in the Certified List of Candidates since this Department already sent via electronic mail the Notice of Implementation and Minute Resolution No. 23-0735 on 26 October 2023," it added.

The Comelec En Banc thus adopted the recommendation of the Law Department to conduct an investigation by the Personnel Department against Moran.

In a message to reporters, Comelec chairman George Garcia said Moran may be removed from office due to gross insubordination.

The En Banc also approved the recommendation to consider the votes received by Capinig for 2023 BSKE as "stray votes."

The candidate for the position of Punong Barangay of Barangay Cabas-an who garnered the next highest number of votes among the qualified candidates will also be proclaimed the winner. —KBK, GMA Integrated News