A barangay chairman in Cagayan de Oro City has described as political harassment the case filed to disqualify him in the 2025 midterm elections.

Raineir Joaquin Uy, chairman of Barangay Carmen, is seeking a congressional seat for the First District of Cagayan de Oro.

The Commission on Election (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.

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.

“Ang among citizens charter, kung mangayo ka certification gikan na sa zone chairman, i-verify, pangayuan og pamatuod kung naa na siya nagpuyo diha… i-verify na sa zone chairman… after ana, moanhi na sa verifying officer didto sa admin, i-verify kung naay zone clearance iyang legal documentations… with due diligence and in good faith atong pag-issue ana, miagi sa proseso based sa citizen charter,” Uy said.

Uy said the increase in the number of voter registrants in the barangay was a result of the COMELEC’s call for the public to register so they can vote in the 2025 elections.

He added that the mall registration and opening of the First District COMELEC office also contributed to the increase in the number of voter registrants.

Uy denied hauling people to register with the COMELEC.

“Sa fact finding investigation, wala man fraudulent or anomalous nga nahitabo since ang tao nagparehistro voluntarily in response sa COMELEC to encourage the voters na magpa rehistro,” Uy said.

Uy described the disqualification case as political harassment.

“Politically motivated… siyempre, duha ra kabuok ang candidates… dili man sad mag-initiate kung wala’y complaint,” he said.

Uy refused to identify the candidate who may be behind the move to disqualify him.

He is set to submit a counter-affidavit before the COMELEC.