Disqualified Quezon congressional candidate denies vote-buying allegations

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified a congressional candidate in Quezon province for alleged vote-buying and cancelled the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) of a gubernatorial candidate in Camarines Sur on the issue of residency.

Disqualified Quezon Congressional candidate and General Luna Mayor Matt Erwin Florido denied accusations of vote-buying and that he will file an appeal with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Sandra Aguinaldo on Thursday, Florido was disqualified after the Comelec was not convinced of his explanation regarding the distribution of P1,000 and shirts at a gathering.

Florido said the gathering was for his campaign staff and volunteers, and that the money was a cash advance that had to be returned if not used.

“Hindi totoo na namimili ako ng boto. Kailanman ay hindi ko yan gagawin,” he said in a Facebook video.

Comelec said Florido may file an appeal, and that his name remains on the ballot.

“Binibigyan ng pagkakataong iapela ito sa Comelec en banc… Pwede pa nating maisampa ang kaso sa Korte Suprema,” he said.

(We are being given a chance to file an appeal with the Comelec en banc… We can still file a case with the Supreme Court.)

The Comelec, in a separate resolution, cancelled the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Camarines Sur gubernatorial candidate Ronald Alarkon Rodriguez, stating that Rodriguez’s declared residence in Palestina, Pili, Camarines Sur was not true.

Rodriguez said that he had documents that proved he had been a resident of the area no less than 1 year, in line with the residency requirement, and that he will continue with his candidacy.

“'Yung Kapitan nila nag-isyu sa akin ng certificate of residency saka 'yung in-charge na Barangay Kagawad, nag-isyu po ng certification na kilala niya ako, na diyan ako nakatira. 'Yung mga delivery receipts 'yung mga utilities and many other documents ang nagpapatunay,” he said in a Facebook video.

(Their captain was the one who issued a certificate of residency to me, and the Barangay Kagawad in-charge that issued the certification knew me, and knew that I lived here. The delivery receipts, utilities, and many other documents can prove that.) — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News