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Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
May 8, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — For her presence on at least two occasions wherein government cash assistance was being distributed, Batangas Rep. Jinky Luistro may be barred from seeking reelection, in what could be the first “ayuda-related” case against a candidate in the coming midterm elections.
A Batangas resident filed a disqualification complaint against Luistro before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), allegedly after she made it appear to beneficiaries of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) that she was instrumental in the release of the funds. No other details were given.
A disqualification complaint was also filed against Sta. Fe, Cebu mayoral candidate Ithamar Espinosa, for allegedly forcing employees to attend campaign sorties.
At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum yesterday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia reiterated that the Comelec will not proclaim winning candidates with pending disqualification cases.
He also emphasized that there is nothing political about the Comelec’s issuance of show cause orders as all cases are seriously evaluated, and appropriate actions are taken only after complaints have been filed.
Recently, the Comelec issued show cause orders against Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro and his wife Marjorie Ann, as well as against their opponents Rep. Stella Quimbo and her husband Miro.
The Marikina congresswoman was said to be behind the filing of a vote-buying complaint against the Teodoro couple. The petitioner against the Teodoro couple, John David Ramos, is allegedly the propagator of pro-Quimbo content on social media.
Also slapped with disqualification cases are senatorial candidate Eric Martinez and 23 local candidates, for failing or refusal to remove illegal campaign posters.
Among those named in the disqualification complaints are Manila vice mayoralty candidates Chi Atienza and Nino Anthony Magno, candidate for Manila councilor Gerardo Gamez, San Juan city candidate for councilor John Ervic Vejandre and Pasig candidate for councilor Ronwaldo Angeles.
Local candidates in Rizal also facing disqualification cases are Ma. Jeca Villanueva, Estregan Cayton, Gerald James Cruz, Jan Gerick Francisco, Emmanuel Gonzaga, Inigo Marco Jurado and Jan Allyson Lopez.
Candidates in Pampanga with disqualification cases include Allan Onofre, Niko Gonzales, Raco Paolo del Rosario, Shiwen Lim, Elimar Ventura, Maria Lourdes Ale.
Bulacan gubernatorial bets Salvador Violago, Wilhelmino Alvarado and mayoralty candidates Christopher Clemente and Ronaldo Tibayan Jr. are also facing disqualification cases and so is Cebu city vice mayoral candidate Jose Daluz III.
