Comelec to issue show cause orders vs Isko Moreno, Sam Verzosa, more local bets over alleged vote buying
The Commission on Elections will issue show cause orders for Manila mayoral candidates Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, Sam Verzosa, and seven other local bets to answer accusations of vote buying.
Other candidates called to explain include incumbent Caloocan mayor Along Malapitan, Quezon City councilor aspirant Julian Edward Coseteng, Masbate Governor Richard Kho, Baybay City congressional candidate Levito Baligod, Baybay City mayoral candidate Marilou Baligod, Bulacan Sang. Panlalawigan bet Anna Kathrina Hernandez, and Nueva Vizcaya bet for Sangguniang Bayan member Jerry Jose.
According to Comelec, Domagoso allegedly handed out P3,000 to public school teachers while Verzosa supposedly gave out goods with the name "SV."
Jose was said to be distributing live pigs to constituents, while Malapitan reportedly gave out P3,225.
The Baligods were accused of holding raffles with prizes bearing their names and faces, and Coseteng allegedly offered GCash prizes worth P500.
Kho, on the other hand, allegedly used emergency alerts to broadcast the names of candidates.
Hernandez was said to be giving away dish racks, electric fans, sacks of rice, and shirts.
Verzosa took to Facebook to question the accusations and instead claimed that vote buying was happening at the San Andres Complex in Manila on April 24.
"'Di ko alam kung bakit ako nirereklamo ng bigayan ng pera, nag-house-to-house lang ako dito sa San Andres," he said, pointing to the complex where he claims vote buying was occurring. He did not mention which candidate was allegedly giving away P1,000.
Comelec's show cause order for Verzosa is for giving away goods with his initials.
Meanwhile, Malapitan clarified in a statement that the P3,225 distributed in Galino Court was part of the city's "Agapay sa Manggagawa" program, which received an exemption on Feb. 7, 2025.
The nine candidates are ordered to submit a written explanation why they should not be disqualified and charged with election offenses.
On April 22, Comelec issued a show cause order for senatorial candidate Camille Villar for alleged vote buying during her campaign sortie in Imus, Cavite.
She "vehemently denied" the allegations and said she was "confident" that the poll body would clear her name upon hearing her side. (with reports from Mayen Jaymalin)
