Barangay Carmen Chairman Raineir Joaquin “KapKik” Uy. (File photo courtesy of the Barangay Carmen Facebook page)
MindanaoToday.com | KapKik hopeful for fair hearing on DQ case
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Barangay Carmen Chairman Raineir Joaquin “KapKik” Uy is confident that he will be granted a fair hearing on the disqualification case filed against him at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently.
This case, filed by Comelec’s Law Department, stems from a complaint letter submitted by Rep. Lordan Suan, of the city’s 1st congressional district, alleging irregularities in the issuance of barangay residence certificates.
Uy wants to convey to the public and the Comelec that he did not engage in any fraudulent means to encourage or force Carmen residents who had not yet registered to do so, merely to fulfill their civic duty and exercise their right to vote.
He is calling on newly registered voters in Carmen to come forward and affirm that they were neither coerced nor unduly persuaded to register just to be able to vote in May 2025.
The increase in voter registration in Barangay Carmen reflects the public’s response to Comelec and other government agencies’ calls for citizens to register as voters, emphasizing the importance of Filipino participation in elections, a fundamental pillar of democracy.
Based on an assessment of those registered to vote in Carmen, only 5 percent of applications were denied, with most rejections not due to non-residency in Carmen but to applicants’ failure to attend Comelec hearings regarding their registration.
It is worth noting that many of these applicants are low-income workers whose earnings rely on daily attendance at work under a “no work, no pay” arrangement.
It should also be understood that issuing certificates of residency is not illegal, as such documents are required for various legitimate purposes, a statement from Uy’s office circulated to the media late Thursday, Nov. 28, noted.
“The public condemns the abuse of power and influence by the current District 1 congressman of
Cagayan de Oro City in his attempts to gain political leverage against his opponent. We call for the preservation of the rights of District 1 constituents to choose their government officials through fair, free, and peaceful elections,” the statement added. (Office of Barangay Chairman Raineir Joaquin “KapKik” Uy)
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