Raymond faces DQ complaint

Just five days before the May 12 midterm elections, two prominent Cebu officials are facing disqualification cases for alleged violations of election laws involving the distribution of government aid during the campaign period.

- Iris Hazel Mascardo and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon Staff Members

In Cebu City, a petition has been filed against Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, while in the fourth district, Congresswoman Janice Salimbangon is facing a second disqualification complaint alongside several allied candidates.

The petition against Garcia was filed by Analiza Pilunes Maglasang. One of her lawyers, Attorney Armando Ligutan, told The Freeman that the complaint was filed online on Tuesday and is related to the distribution of sacks of rice to different barangays in the city.

The complainant stated that on March 27, 2024, the Cebu City Council issued a resolution placing the city's mountain barangays under a state of calamity due to El Niño.

In response, the Cebu City government, through the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), procured sacks of rice to be distributed to the residents of the affected barangays.

They alleged that Garcia authorized the disbursement of funds for victims of El Niño to purchase 166,600 sacks of rice amounting to a total of P49 million.

On March 11, 2025, the complainant stated that Garcia led the distribution of these sacks of rice-purchased by CCDRRMO to the constituents of Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City. They emphasized that Barangay Duljo-Fatima was not among the mountain barangays declared under a state of calamity.

"Respondent appeared during the activity. He made sure his presence was known and unmistakable. He gave a speech. Photographs of the activity show how the respondent participated in the giving of these sacks of rice," the complaint further reads.

The document included actual photos taken during the distribution.