Stemming from a video posted on social media.
On Tuesday, April 22, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said that will be releasing a show cause order against Senatorial candidate Camille Villar.
According to COMELEC’s Committee on Kontra Bigay executive director Teopisto Elnas, Jr., they received a tip from an anonymous individual who shared a link to the social media post.
In the video that was uploaded on Facebook, Villar was seen in attendance during an event in Imus, Cavite.
During the said program, prizes were handed out, which allegedly included cash.
According to Elnas, the commission has yet to verify the date when this exactly occurred, as they only received the tip on Monday, with videos uploaded on February 12 and 16.
“Tinitingnan lang natin na… baka may instance na masasakop ito sa vote-buying kasi may nag-aabot ng pera, may tumatanggap ng pera doon mismo sa okasyon na ‘yon,” he said.
He continued, “Titingnan din namin kung kailan ito. Baka nangyari ito [noong] December pa, baka nangyari before the campaign period, so walang liabilty.”
In her statement, incumbent Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar’s camp said that they “…vehemently deny any allegation or insinuation of vote buying or commission of any election offense for that matter.“
She also expressed her confidence that the COMELEC will “clear” her name from these allegations upon hearing her side.
Moreover, they also shared a link to a post made by their television station, ALLTV, announcing the event in Buhay Na Tubig, Imus, Cavite last February 9, which they pointed as the event in question.
Villar, who is the first candidate in a national position to be issued a show cause order, will be given three days to respond to the Commission.
The official campaign period for national candidates kicked off last February 11, and will last until Saturday, May 10.
The midterm polls is then set to happen on Monday, May 12.