Elected Candijay Councilor Edgar Torralba (inset, upper left corner), who advocated for clean government in his town, was dismissed by Comelec for distributing fish to the poor, with the election body accusing the act of vote buying. (Contributed photo)
BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
A newly-elected municipal councilor in Candijay, Bohol has been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for alleged vote buying after distributing fish to attendees at a campaign caucus, prompting criticism from anti-corruption advocates who question the speed of the ruling.
Edgar Torralba, who won a council seat in Candijay in the May 2025 elections, was stripped of his position following a complaint that he engaged in vote buying by giving away milkfish during a campaign gathering.
The case has drawn the attention of Willy Ramasola, a Manila-based anti-corruption crusader from Bohol, who detailed Torralba’s plight in a Facebook post that has ignited debate about electoral justice.
“Gusto si Sir Edgar mo serbisyo sa Bohol agig pasalamat sa mga grasya na iyang nadawat sa kinabuhi ug higayon pod ma share niya iyang expertise sa Finance and audit para makatabang sa good governance sa Bohol,” Ramasola wrote, explaining that Torralba wanted to serve Bohol to give back and share his finance and audit expertise for good governance.
According to Ramasola’s revelation, Torralba had previously run unsuccessfully for councilor and mayor positions in Candijay before finally winning in 2025.
His platform centered on good governance, and he had requested assignment to a committee that would audit municipal projects to ensure proper budget spending.
“Pag check nako unsay iyang gibuhat, nahibaw-an nako nga nanghatag siyag mga isda para sa mga tao nga ni attend sa iyang caucus. So mao na to ang basehan sa complaint,” Ramasola explained, noting that the complaint was based on Torralba’s distribution of fish to caucus attendees.
The speed of Comelec’s ruling has drawn sharp criticism from supporters.
Ramasola recounted that Torralba’s lawyer filed a motion for reconsideration on Friday, only to receive a denial resolution the following Monday.
“Akong usbon. Friday ni file ug MR ang abogado ni Sir Edgar unya pagka Lunes nipagawas ang Comelec ug resolution nga denied iyang MR,” Ramasola wrote, noting the unusually rapid timeline.
“Ingana ka paspas ang injustice nga gibuhat against Sir Edgar. Looy kaayo,” he added, expressing dismay at what he characterized as swift injustice against Torralba.
Ramasola questioned the selective enforcement, noting that many politicians who won in the recent elections had distributed goods during their campaigns.
“Ang pangutana si Edgar ra ba diay ang namalit ug boto? Hapit tanan na politiko nga nidaog sa niaging eleksyon nanghatag man ug inangayan,” he wrote, asking whether Torralba was the only one who supposedly bought votes when nearly all winning politicians distributed items.
Ramasola hopes that lawyer Jordan Pizarras will successfully appeal Torralba’s disqualification.
Torralba, who worked in Manila and gradually invested his savings in small businesses including fishponds in Bohol, had joined fellow Boholanos at gatherings in Manila and lived modestly while building his investments, according to Ramasola’s account.
The disqualification prevents Torralba from taking his oath and serving in the position he won, despite his campaign promise to promote transparency and good governance in Candijay municipality where controversial Congresswoman Alexie Besas-Tutor is residing.
Ramasola concluded his post with a call for support:
“Tabangan nato si Konsehal. Tabangan nato ang mga gusto magserbisyo ug tinarong pero napildi tungod sa tikas. Tabangan nato ang Bohol” — urging people to help the councilor and others who want to serve properly but were defeated due to deceit, and to help Bohol.