Comelec issues show cause order vs Camille Villar over alleged vote buying
The Commission on Elections issued a show cause order against senatorial candidate Camille Villar for alleged vote buying during her campaign sortie, which included a cash raffle event in Imus, Cavite.
The poll body, through its Committee on Kontra Bigay, has ordered Villar to explain on Tuesday, April 22, after receiving the video on Monday of the alleged vote buying from an anonymous complainant.
“Mayroong isang kandidato, and at the same time, mayroong nabibigay, nag-aabot ng pera, parang raffle. Pero ‘yung isang kandidato na nandoon, na subject natin for the show cause order, nandoon lang sa stage mismo,” CKB executive director Teopisto Elnas Jr. detailed the said video to the media on Tuesday.
The event was held at Barangay Buhay na Tubig in Imus, Cavite. “Nandoon ‘yung presensiya ng senatorial candidate, Camille Villar,” he added.
“Tinitingnan natin na baka may instance na masasakop sa vote-buying kasi may nag-aabot ng pera, may tumatanggap ng pera doon mismo sa okasyon na ‘yun,” he added.
Villar is given three days after receiving the order to respond and explain her side. However, in her initial statement, she denied the allegations, saying the event happened on Feb. 9, which was days before the campaign period started.
The said event was uploaded on the Facebook page of mayoral candidate Alex Advincula on Feb. 12 and on Team AJAA Imus page on Feb. 16.
“I vehemently deny any allegation or insinuation of vote buying or commission of any election offense for that matter,” she said.
“I am confident that the Comelec will clear my name of these wrongful allegations upon hearing my side on the matter,” she added.
Villar, daughter of the richest Filipino tycoon Manny Villar, is the first candidate running for a national position to have been issued a show cause order. She is an incumbent Las Piñas congresswoman and is now eyeing a senate seat under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial lineup.
