Laguna’s political scene heats up as Governor Ramil Hernandez and his wife, incumbent Second District Representative Ruth Hernandez, face serious disqualification charges at the Commission on Elections (Comelec). The couple stands accused of vote-buying, an allegation that threatens to shake the upcoming elections.
On Friday, four individuals—Ma. Lantes Greganda, Darren John Catalejo, Alena Nicole Dequillo, and Niño Greganda—filed a formal petition accusing the Hernandez couple of distributing provincial health cards as a front for vote-buying. The petition was submitted at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, with legal representation from lawyers Ariel Rodovan and Ana De Castro.
“These four witnesses saw the vote-buying unfold during a week-long operation that reached a peak on April 24 and 25 in Cabuyao,” Rodovan revealed. Their close connection to the incident and apparent desire for a fair election prompted them to come forward, he added.
Governor Hernandez is vying to become the representative of Laguna’s second district while his wife aims to replace him as governor. According to the petitioners, buses transported residents holding official province-issued health cards from a terminal in Cabuyao to a warehouse in Calamba, where the residents were handed P2,000 each.
The couple was allegedly present during the distribution event. Election paraphernalia supporting their candidacies reportedly adorned the venue, raising further suspicion.
Rodovan explained the significance of the provincial health cards: “These cards, given out just days before the incident, are meant to grant health benefits to Laguna residents. During the election, they became passes—no health card, no P2,000 payoff.”
He stressed that the health cards are government property, implicating the Hernandezes in abuse of state resources (ASR). The petitioners also submitted a video capturing the incident as key evidence.
In addition to cash, witnesses claimed that shirts, food, and water were handed out at the event—classic incentives tied to vote-buying.
Attempts to get a response from the Hernandez couple have so far been unanswered.
This case puts a spotlight on election integrity in Laguna just as the campaign season intensifies. The Comelec’s decision could change the political landscape and warn others against using government resources for personal electoral gain. Stay tuned for updates as this drama unfolds.