Cagayan de Oro: A disqualification case was filed against a candidate of the First Congressional District of Cagayan de Oro City in connection with the alleged fraudulent voter registration in the village where he is the incumbent chairperson. In a 16-page petition for disqualification filed before the Clerk of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Law Department asked to disqualify Barangay Carmen chairperson Raineir Joaquin Uy over the issuance of questionable barangay certifications that were used to apply for voter registration in the district.
According to Philippines News Agency, the case alleges that Uy willfully and maliciously employed a fraudulent scheme of issuing barangay certifications to non-residents of Barangay Carmen. This was purportedly done to influence and induce these individuals to register as voters in the said barangay, thereby giving Uy an undue advantage for his candidacy in the 2025 national and local elections (NLE). The case arose from what was described as an “implausible
influx” of registration applications in Barangay Carmen, many of which were supported by certifications issued by Uy.
The petition highlights inconsistencies and irregularities in the procedure for issuing barangay certifications. It also points out that a significant number of applicants failed to prove their qualifications as voters despite possessing such certifications. The petition claims that these questionable certifications encourage registrants to apply for registration in Barangay Carmen, even if they do not meet the residency requirements set by law, indicating fraudulent activities attributed to Uy.
The investigation by the poll body’s special task force revealed that out of 21,854 applicants for voter registration, 8,218 used barangay certifications as their valid identification. Of those applications, 1,161 were disapproved due to the applicants’ failure to appear before the Election Registration Board and satisfactorily prove residency in the barangay.
Reelectionist Representative Lordan Sua
n requested the probe into the matter. The Commission en banc will eventually rule on the petition, determining whether Uy will be disqualified from running for the congressional seat.
