Raymond is facing disqualification from the elections just before the voting day.
Barangay Talamban Resident Petitions Disqualification of Cebu City Mayor
Get ready for some election drama! A resident of Barangay Talamban has filed a petition to disqualify Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia just days before the May 12 elections. This move comes after allegations that the mayor utilized government resources for campaigning during the election period.
Since the Ombudsman dismissed eight cases questioning his tenure as mayor, this is the first disqualification case against Garcia. He took office as acting mayor when former mayor Michael Rama was suspended for six months in May 2024, and was later installed as full-fledged mayor in October the same year, following Rama's dismissal due to nepotism and grave misconduct charges.
The petition alleges that Garcia handed out sacks of rice and used city assets for campaigning during the election period. Analiza Pilones Maglasang, a registered voter, has requested the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify Garcia or, if he wins, nullify his election.
The allegations seem to violate Section 261(v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the use of public funds for social welfare projects during the campaign period.
However, Mayor Garcia has brushed off the petition as politically motivated, designed to hinder his mayoral bid. With recent surveys placing him in the lead, such as the "Voters' Preference and Perspectives Survey for Cebu City" by the University of San Carlos and the Boses ng Bayan survey by the RP-Mission Development Foundation Inc, he questions the timing and circulation of the petition in media. Interesting to note, the petition was unsigned and unfiled.
Mayor Garcia is squaring off against former mayor Michael Rama, City Councilor Nestor Archival, former Customs Commissioner Lorenzo "Yogi" Ruiz, and independent candidate Juliette Co. As of now, the Comelec hasn't released a statement concerning this petition, with further developments expected as the election draws near. Stay tuned for more updates!
[1] Enrichment Data: The allegations against Mayor Garcia include using city resources like sacks of rice, monobloc chairs, and city facilities for campaign purposes, as well as using city funds through assistance programs during the campaign period. Mayor Garcia has denied these accusations and claimed an exemption granted by the COMELEC for city aid distribution.
[2] Enrichment Data: Mayor Garcia has also stated that he has not received a formal copy of the complaint.
[3] Enrichment Data: Earlier in the campaign period, Mayor Garcia took action to reclaim City Hall–owned radios that were allegedly used for political campaigning by former government personnel.
[4] Enrichment Data: The disqualification petition is currently pending before the COMELEC, with no final resolution reported as of yet.
- The disqualification petition against Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, filed by Analiza Pilones Maglasang, alleges that he used City resources, such as sacks of rice, monobloc chairs, and city facilities, for campaign purposes, violating Section 261(v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code by utilizing public funds for social welfare projects during the campaign period.
- Despite the allegations, Mayor Garcia claims an exemption granted by the COMELEC for city aid distribution and denies using city resources for political purposes.
- In a previous move, Mayor Garcia took action to reclaim City Hall–owned radios that were allegedly used for political campaigning by former government personnel.
- The ongoing disqualification petition is currently pending before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), with no final resolution reported as of yet.
- This petition follows several election news stories and political controversies in Cebu, such as war-and-conflicts charges levied against former mayor Michael Rama, who is now running against Garcia in the May 12 elections.
