Revillame says he didn’t avoid elderly man in viral video

This screengrab shows a man and his child (left) approach television host and senatorial candidate Willie Revillame (right) (Screengrab from viral video)

MANILA, Philippines — Television show  host and senatorial candidate Willie Revillame denied avoiding an elderly man as captured in a viral video.

The video circulating on social media showed a supporter taking a photo with Revillame.

When the man and his child, however,  approached the television host, Revillame was seen walking away.

“Ngayon, may nagvi-viral na video. May matandang lumalapit sa akin. Hindi ko iniiwasan yun,” Revillame said in his speech at the Quezon City Hall flag raising ceremony on Monday.

(Now, there’s a video going viral. There was an elder approaching me. I was not avoiding him.)

“Ang sabi ko, ‘Tatay, huwag kayong lumapit kasi bawal ako mamigay ng pera. May tutulong sa inyong iba,’” Revillame added.

(I said, ‘Tatay, don’t approach me because I can’t give you money. Someone else will help you.)

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits vote-buying and vote-selling, defined as: “Any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value… in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election.”

Revillame recalled that he was handing out cash aid when he was not yet a candidate for office and was campaigning for then-Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte in the 2019 Quezon City mayoral race.

“Matitiis ko ba yung walang paa? Lumalapit sa akin, ‘di ko bibigyan ng pera? Matitiis mo ba yung manghihingi ng gamot? Matitiis mo ba yung mga nangangailangan?” Revillame said.

(Could I ignore someone without a foot? When someone would approach me, would I not give them money? Could you ignore those asking for medicine? Could you ignore those in need?)

“Wala kang kwentang tao kapag hindi mo binigyan at tinulungan yan,” he added.

(You are nothing as a person if you do not give to them and help them.)

Revillame and Belmonte faced a vote-buying complaint following the May 2019 polls.

The Supreme Court affirmed Comission on Election’s  dismissal of the case in March 2023.