Negros village chief, 5 kagawads disqualified in 2025 elections

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified a village chairman and five kagawads in Negros Occidental from running in the 2025 midterm elections due to alleged vote-buying.

The disqualification of Arnulfo Libodlibod, chief of Barangay Marcelo in Calatrava town, stemmed from alleged election offenses committed during the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October 2023.

Aside from Libodlibod, the poll body disqualified kagawads Richard Diotay, Eddy Monterde, Elmor Marcelo, Prescila Patajo and Joel Rosello.

The respondents have denied the allegations.

Negros Occidental election supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said the respondents are still being investigated for election offenses.

Ananoria said the Department of the Interior and Local Government would decide on the case of the respondents based on the result of the investigation.

He said the respondents could still appeal the Comelec decision.

Ananoria said the disqualification of the respondents showed that the Comelec is serious in investigating complaints involving election offenses, particularly vote-buying.