By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) En Banc has voided the proclamations of two Bohol council candidates over vote-buying and dismissed a court employee for misappropriating ₱598,444.20 in public funds in separate rulings acted on Oct. 28, 2026.
In Bagor v. COMELEC and Curativo v. COMELEC, the Court upheld the disqualification of Charina C. Bagor and Erlinda Curativo, respectively, as candidates for the Sangguniang Bayan of Candijay during the 2025 elections.
Bagor was found to have distributed food packs in exchange for votes, while Curativo allegedly gave ₱60,000 to a barangay councilor for distribution of ₱100 per voter. The Court ruled that the evidence supported their disqualification under the Omnibus Election Code, stressing that vote-buying compromises voters’ freedom of choice.
In a separate administrative case, the Court dismissed Rose Ann R. Marzonia, Clerk II of the Municipal Trial Court in Romblon, for serious dishonesty and gross misconduct. A financial audit covering February 2008 to March 2023 uncovered shortages across several court funds.
Marzonia made unauthorized withdrawals, failed to deposit collections, tampered with passbooks and forged signatures. The Court forfeited her benefits, barred her from future public service and ordered a hold departure order.
Her supervisor, Clerk of Court II Wina M. Cometa, was suspended for eight months without pay for gross neglect of duty after failing to enforce financial safeguards. Both employees were ordered to repay the shortage.
The Court reiterated that public office is a public trust and that judicial personnel must uphold honesty, integrity and accountability.
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