The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has disqualified the incumbent mayor of Cabuyao City, Laguna after finding substantial evidence that he was involved in vote buying during the 2025 elections.
In an October 23 resolution, the election body accepted a petition to disqualify Mayor Dennis Felipe C. Hahn for allegedly violating provisions of the Omnibus Election Code related to vote buying.
The petitioner claimed that Mr. Hahn and his brother, a city councilor, used their family-owned property in Cabuyao City to hold meetings billed as “election observers' seminars,” where cash was allegedly distributed to attendees.
Comelec said Mr. Hahn's actions fall squarely under the definition of vote buying, as residents are required to present their voter ID cards before entering the premises, where they allegedly received P1,000 each after listening to campaign speeches by the brothers and other members of the National Unity Party (NUP).
Attendees were also asked to surrender their mobile phones, which were sealed in plastic to prevent them from recording the event.
The commission said photographs, video footage and judicial affidavits presented by witnesses provide sufficient evidence that votes were bought.
“The presence of long queues of persons at the defendant's premises for distribution of money along with a direct appeal for electoral support gives rise to an inevitable presumption of an unlawful attempt to influence voters,” the motion said.
In his defence, Mr Hahn denied the allegations and dismissed them as “fabricated and self-serving”.
However, the election body rejected his general denial, saying it failed to explain the documentary evidence or contradict testimony confirming his involvement in the distribution of funds.
“Respondent Dennis Felipe C. Hahn is disqualified as Mayor of Cabuyao City, Laguna for the 2025 national and local elections,” the ruling said. – Erica Mae P. Sinaking
