ILOILO City – There was no truth to a report that a candidate in the recent barangay election, a member of an indigenous people’s (IP) group in Calinog, Iloilo, had been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Fake news” was how Atty. Tomas Valera, acting regional director of Comelec, described the report.
According to the report, Remia Castor, candidate for barangay kagawad in Barangay Alibunan, Calinog town, complained having received information that she was disqualified by Comelec because she was an active member of the militant group advocating IP rites, the Tumadok.
“That’s nonsense. First, there must first be a disqualification case filed with the Comelec,” stressed Valera.
Comelec Region 6 had not received any disqualification complaint against Castor nor had it received any order from its central office disqualifying her.
Valera also said there were grounds to consider for a candidate’s disqualification such as committing an election offense (not following campaign rules and regulation, vote-buying, overspending, etc.)
Also, there is no law prohibiting an IP member from seeking public office, he stressed.
Even the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Region 6 was dragged in the “fake news” about Castor’s alleged disqualification from the barangay election.
According to the report, NIA had been harassing Castor and her Tumandok group for opposing the construction of a mega dam in Calinog, Iloilo.
NIA is the government agency implementing the mega dam project. It slammed the report on Castor.
According to Steve Cordero, watershed chief of NIA Region 6, they do not harass the IP in Calinog.
He also said NIA has no power to disqualify any election candidate./PN
