Comelec orders Quimbo, Lacuna, and other local bets to explain alleged vote buying
The Commission on Elections has issued show cause orders to several local candidates over allegations of vote buying and abuse of state resources ahead of the May 12 midterm polls.
The poll body’s Committee on Kontra Bigay chief Teopisto Elnas Jr. listed local candidates, including one partylist and two non-candidates, who must explain allegations of vote buying and state resources (ASR) against them.
The list includes Marikina’s mayoral candidate Stella Quimbo and her husband, Romero Quimbo, who is seeking to represent Marikina's 2nd District, and Manila mayor Honey Lacuna.
In their joint statement shared on Facebook, the Quimbos said that they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint but have firmly denied the allegations.
“Hindi po kami namimili ng boto. Ang boto ng bawat Marikenyo ay sagrado. Iginagalang namin ang tiwalang ibinibigay ng aming mga kababayan. Hinding-hindi namin lalapastanganin ito sa pamamagitan ng mga iligal na paraan. Lagi po kaming sumusunod sa mga alituntunin ng COMELEC,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Lacuna said in a statement that she will comply with Comelec’s show cause order and is ready to “disprove and debunk” the allegations.
“Hindi tayo magpapatinag. Patuloy ang laban para sa tuluy-tuloy na progreso ng Maynila at magandang kinabukasan para sa lahat ng Manileño,” she wrote on her Facebook post.
Other local bets issued with show cause orders are:
- Laguna province gubernatorial candidate Danilo Fernandez
- Mauban, Quezon mayoral bet Erwin Pastrana
- Cavite City mayoral bet Denver Christopher Chua
- Rhapsody Miguel Riveral of Cuartero, Capiz
- Cagayan Province gubernatorial candidate, Zarah Rose Lara
- Rolen Paulino, Jr., Olongapo City, Zambales mayoral candidate
- Quezon Province vice mayoral candidate Romulo Avila
- Taytay, Rizal mayoral candidate Allan Martine de Leon
- Dumangas, Iloilo’s Sangguniang Bayan member candidates Ruben Talon, Butch Suspeñe, and Zake Derequito
- Cavite City mayoral candidate Denver Chua
- Marvin Venus, Sangguniang Bayan member candidate in Baras, Rizal
- Kamalayan Party-list
- And non-candidates Winfred Rivera and Jeren Jude Bacas
The Comelec has earlier issued several show cause orders to other local bets, including Manila mayoral candidates Isko Moreno and Sam Verzosa, for the same allegations.
