By I. Inojales | 06:46 PM October 29, 2026

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the disqualification of two candidates for the Sangguniang Bayan of Candijay, Bohol, in the 2025 elections after finding substantial evidence that they engaged in vote-buying.

In a press briefer, the SC said its En Banc, during its Oct. 28, 2026, session, denied the separate petitions for certiorari filed by Charina C. Bagor and Erlinda Curativo challenging their disqualification by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Candijay police chief Capt. Marvin A. Chin sought the disqualification of the two candidates over alleged vote-buying before the May 2025 elections.

Bagor was accused of distributing food packs to several individuals in Candijay days before the polls and asking them to remember her as a candidate.

Curativo, meanwhile, was accused of giving ₱60,000 to a barangay kagawad with instructions to distribute ₱100 to each voter before the election.

The COMELEC disqualified both candidates under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code after finding substantial evidence of vote-buying.

The Supreme Court affirmed the poll body’s rulings, finding that Bagor distributed valuable items in exchange for votes, while Curativo gave money to influence voters to support her.

Their proclamations as winning candidates were voided as a consequence of their disqualification.

The SC stressed that vote-buying undermines free elections by exploiting voters’ economic circumstances and replacing their political choices with monetary incentives.

Vote-buying must be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and [its practitioners] prevented from entering into public office,” the Court said.

The SC added that the practice keeps voters dependent on money offered in exchange for their votes and must be stopped.

The full text of the court’s decision will be uploaded to the Supreme Court website once available.

The press briefer is available at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=175939.