By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently ordered a preliminary investigation into 25 barangay captains from across Negros Occidental on alleged election-related violations.

In a memorandum obtained yesterday, Comelec Regional Director Dennis Ausan ordered Negros Occidental Comelec elections supervisor, Atty. Jessie Suarez, to conduct a preliminary investigation into the case of Salvacion Penuela vs. Leonilo Colegado, which centers on the barangay captain race in Bacolod City’s Barangay 41, where Penuela was declared the winner.

The case cites Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, which specifies all actions considered “election offenses.”

The investigation is a result of complaints filed last May by Penuela, Emmanuel Rectra, Rogelio Ermeo, and Rufino Alcala before the local Comelec, which points to 25 barangay captains allegedly  involved in election violations.

The complainants alleged the barangay officials were in violation of Section 38, Article 6 of the Election Code, which states, “[The] barangay election shall be nonpartisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.”

They claim financial assistance, in the form of clean-up activities, were provided.

In Bacolod City, the city government released financial assistance ranging from P140,000 to P320,000 to 25 barangays./DGB, WDJ