By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finally proclaimed a barangay kagawad from Negros Occidental’s E.B. Magalona town, whose proclamation was suspended after he was allegedly involved in premature campaigning during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last year.
Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, Comelec provincial elections supervisor, said the proclamation suspension order against Kagawad Jose Rio Bisagar of Barangay Tabigue was lifted last December 15, 2023.
Bisagar was proclaimed as the fourth barangay kagawad the following day.
He was among the 17 candidates in Negros Occidental who received the order for alleged premature campaigning.
Ananoria clarified that the investigation into the allegations against Bisagar is still pending.
However, he can still take his oath of office and sit as a village official.
He could still face disqualification if the allegations are true.
Ananoria also said that Comelec chairman George Garcia has ordered them to give strength to the Omnibus Election Code as many candidates are ignoring it./DGB, WDJ