SC voids victory of candidates who handed out food packs, P100 cash

MANILA — The Supreme Court upheld the disqualification of two candidates in the 2025 National and Local Elections in Candijay, Bohol over incidences of vote-buying.

In a statement, the high court denied during its en banc session on October 28 the petitions for certiorari of Charina Bagor and Erlinda Curativo, who both ran for councilor in the last elections.

Bagor was accused of distributing food packs to several individuals in the municipality days before the election and asking them to “remember” her as a candidate.

Curativo meantime was accused of giving P60,000 to a barangay kagawad with instructions to distribute P100 to each voter before the election. 

The SC noted that the Commission on Elections had disqualified Bagor and Curativo under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code after finding “substantial evidence” of vote-buying. 

“The SC affirmed the decision, holding that Bagor handed out valuable items in exchange for votes, while Curativo distributed money to influence voters to support her,” the SC said in the statement. 

The SC further noted that because the two candidates were disqualified, their proclamation as winning candidates was voided. 

The high court stressed that vote-buying undermines free elections and violators of the law must be prosecuted and prevented from entering public service. 

The SC further stated that vote-buying takes advantage of the economic situation voters and keeps them dependent on whatever amount is given to them in exchange for their votes.

“It replaces the will of the voters with money and must be stopped,” the SC said.