by Leonardo Micua
MAPANDAN, Pangasinan—The disqualification case filed against Mapandan Mayor Karl Vega, other winners of the election in the town, and several other respondents was dismissed by the Commission on Elections en banc in an order dated February 11, 2026.
The case stemmed from the affidavit-complaint filed by the losing candidate for mayor, Jaime Gutierrez Aquino,  who alleged vote-buying  and other election offenses marred the election in Mapandan in the May 12, 2025 election.
The order dismissing the case was signed by Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia, along with Commissioners Aimee Ferolino, Ernesto Maceda Jr., Maria Norman Tangaro-Casingal, Rey Bulay and Nelson Celis.
The Comelec cited the failure of the petitioners to comply with the mandatory requirements as its reason in dismissing Aquino’s affidavit-complaint. .
The other respondents are Gerald Glenn Tambaoan, Melvin Jerold Ranas, Hilarion Morales, Blando Quinto, Freddie Penullar, Alicia Mariano, John Ericson Parayno, Ronnie Revilla, Gem Castro, Marven Calaunan, Albert Ferrer, Francis Serafica, Rodel Casilang, Eduardo de Guzman, Arturo Caramat, Bernard Antolin, Alexander Aquino, Roger Castro, Edgar Garin, Rosette Soriano, Cesario Quinto, Ariel Palagud, Juhan Paulinho, and Noel Biala.
Not contented with the action of the Comelec, Aquino filed a disbarment case before the Supreme Court against the seven members  of the Comelec en banc for allegedly violating their lawyer’s oath, due process and ignorance of the law.
Aquino told newsmen in an interview in Manila that he was not given due process by  Comelec nor was told to pay the filing fee of P10,000 and research fee of P100.