(April 22, 2025) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Kontra Bigay Committee will issue a show cause order against senatorial candidate Camille Villar over an alleged vote buying incident in Imus, Cavite.
According to COMELEC Executive Director and Kontra Bigay Committee head Teopisto Elnas Jr. on Tuesday, the case stemmed from a video posted on social media last February 12. The video, later submitted to the committee by an anonymous complainant, shows Villar attending an event in Brgy. Buhay na Tubig where money was allegedly being distributed and a raffle was conducted.
Elnas said Villar’s presence at the event is being reviewed to determine if it falls under vote buying as defined under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
Villar is the first national candidate to be issued a show cause order by the anti-vote buying committee for the 2025 elections.
Once Villar receives the order, she will have three days to explain why she should not be charged with an election offense or face a petition for disqualification.
The poll body clarified that this is not yet a case, but a preliminary action to allow the candidate to respond. If Villar fails to reply within the given period, the committee will investigate further and make recommendations to the COMELEC en banc.
COMELEC aims to resolve the matter before the May 12 elections.
In a statement, Villar denied the allegations, clarifying that the event happened on February 9 or before the campaign period.
“I am confident that the COMELEC will clear my name of these wrongful allegations upon hearing my side on the matter,” the Las Piñas representative said.
Villar said she has yet to receive the show cause order.
Two local candidates will also be issued show cause orders in separate vote buying complaints, but their names have not yet been disclosed.
(With reports from JC Cosico and Marianne Enriquez, News5)
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