Comelec panel junks possible vote-buying complaint vs Camille Villar

Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar files her certificate of candidacy on Friday, October 4, 2024, to run for senator in the 2025 polls. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — A Commission on Elections (Comelec) panel has junked the possible vote-buying complaint against senatorial candidate Camille Villar.

It can be recalled that the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay issued a show cause order against Villar on April 22 for being present in a raffle with cash prizes given.

Villar’s camp answered the petition on April 25, stressing that she was only invited as a guest in the promotional event of ALLTV Network.

She also explained that the event occurred on Feb. 9, two days before the start of the national candidates’ campaign period on Feb. 11.

Only when the campaign period began could the Comelec exercise jurisdiction over the activities of candidates.

In a letter dated May 7 shared by Villar, Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay Vice Chairperson Teopisto Elnas Jr. said: “The Committee on Kontra Bigay takes cognizance of your Answer and considers it to have satisfactorily explained the circumstances surrounding the reported act of alleged vote buying.”

“Upon evaluation of the evidence gathered, the undersigned deems the same insufficient to proceed to the filing of a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification,” he added.

Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., who heads the Committee on Kontra Bigay, confirmed to reporters the letter’s authenticity.

Villar has welcomed the development.

“I am pleased to share that the Committee on Kontra Bigay has dismissed the vote-buying allegations against me for lack of basis,” she said in a statement.

“From the very beginning, I stood firm that no laws were broken. The truth is clear: the event in question was held before the official campaign period and was a legitimate promotional activity, not a political one. I remain focused on serving the people with integrity, commitment, and purpose,” she added. /mcm