A Commission on Elections (Comelec) panel has dismissed the vote-buying complaint filed against senatorial candidate Camille Villar, citing insufficient evidence to support the allegations.
The Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay, which initially issued a show cause order to Villar on April 22, concluded that her involvement in a raffle event with cash prizes did not violate election laws. Villar had been invited as a guest at the promotional event of ALLTV Network, which took place on February 9—two days before the start of the official campaign period for national candidates.
In a letter dated May 7, Committee Vice Chairperson Teopisto Elnas Jr. stated that Villar’s explanation satisfactorily clarified the circumstances of the event. “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,” Elnas wrote.
The committee emphasized that its jurisdiction over candidate activities only begins once the campaign period officially starts. Since the event occurred before this period, the allegations lacked a legal basis.
Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., who chairs the Committee on Kontra Bigay, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to reporters.
Villar expressed relief over the decision, maintaining her position that no laws were violated. “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,” Villar added.
