Looc Captain Accused in Coun. Cabahug's Death, Mandaue
In the heart of the Philippines, incumbent Mandaue City Councilor Editha Cabahug, hailing from Team Mandaue, bit the dust. Her passing, attributed to ovarian cancer, occurred prior to the scheduled May 12, 2025 elections as she sought reelection.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes confirmed the reports and expressed his condolences to the family. He also stated intentions to approach the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to expedite the substitution process.
"We'll coordinate with the local Comelec officer for the procedure," Cortes commented.
Cortes believed this unfortunate incident wouldn't affect their party. He mentioned that the necessary documents, including the certificate of death, death certificate and Certificate of Candidacy (COC), were already in order. Furthermore, Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu Governor, was reportedly identified as a potential replacement.
Raul Kevin Cabahug, Looc Barangay Captain and Editha's son, was rumored to be the frontrunner for substitution, but revealed he had no immediate plans to resign from his current post as Barangay Captain for Looc. According to him, it would only be necessary for him to do so once formally chosen.
Despite Editha Cabahug's name being included in official ballots, Cortes expressed hope that the votes intended for her would still be transferred to another candidate, according to Comelec regulations.
Raul Kevin Cabahug previously served from 2016 to 2019 and enjoyed a 24-year career in public service. His positions ranged from SK chairman, SK federation vice president, barangay councilor for six years, president of Barangay Council for the Leadership and Protection, city councilor, and even as chairman and vice chairman of the Mandaue City Police Advisory Council.
Comelec Region 7 Director Francisco Pobe stated that substitution cases due to death are permissible under election rules, but it must be officially declared by the party. This substitution process can be completed even before the election day itself, provided it meets the COMELEC-set timeframe and endorsed by the party. [-CAV]
When a candidate passes away before an election in the Philippines, the party may substitute another candidate. This substitution is legal as per the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, 1985) and Republic Act No. 9369 (2007). The dead candidate's political party can nominate a new candidate within the COMELEC-set timeframe, subject to party endorsement. The new candidate doesn't necessarily need to have the same last name as the deceased candidate, but sharing the same surname might help maintain voter recognition and support. In recent years, COMELEC has focused on ensuring authentic candidacies by preventing substitution following the withdrawal of candidacy after the last day of COC filing except in cases of death or disqualification.
- Given the recent unfortunate event, the substitution process for the upcoming May 12, 2025 elections in Mandaue City, Cebu, will be initiated by the incumbent party, due to the passing of its candidate, Editha Cabahug.
- The new candidate put forth by Team Mandaue, after the death of Editha Cabahug, will have to abide by the guidelines set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure a smooth substitution, which can be completed even before the election day itself.
- In light of the substitution, general-news outlets and political pundits are examining policy-and-legislation perspectives, as well as discussing crime-and-justice implications, to assess the potential impact on the upcoming elections and the politics of Cebu and the Philippines at large.
