(April 24, 2025) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, who’s running for senator in the upcoming midterm elections, has yet formally respond to the show cause order issued to her over possible vote-buying.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco confirmed that while Villar has issued a public statement, they are still reviewing whether she broke election rules.
“Itong inisyu (na show cause order) ng Comelec ay bahagi ng fact-finding investigation,” said Laudiangco on One PH’s One Balita Pilipinas. “Pero kung may makikita kaming ebidensya, mauuwi ‘yan sa dalawang bagay. Una, kasong kriminal, vote-buying ‘yan. Ikalawa ay petition for disqualification.”
An anonymous complaint was sent to the Comelec on April 21. It included links to a video now circulating on social media, wherein Villar appeared onstage at an event in Cavite as a woman received what seemed to be a cash prize.
Villar is the first national candidate to receive a show cause order from the poll body.
Laudiangco said Villar received the document on Wednesday and has three days to respond.
“Siguro lahat ng paliwanag, lahat ng ebidensya to her defense ay dapat na niyang i-include sa tinatawag na answer dito sa show cause order,” added Laudiangco.
In her earlier statement, Villar clarified that the event shown in the video took place before the campaign period.
She was recently endorsed by Vice Pres. Sara Duterte-Carpio despite also being part of the senatorial slate of Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. Duterte-Caprio and Marcos, who both touted unity in 2022, continue to be at odds.
Villar is looking to replace her mother, Sen. Cynthia Villar, and join her brother, Sen. Mark Villar, in the upper chamber. The Villar matriarch is running for representative of Las Piñas to replace her daughter.
According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, the younger Villar was the top spender on Facebook advertisements in the second half of 2024, shelling out P13 million.
(PM)
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