THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) Committee on Kontra Bigay has dismissed the vote-buying allegations against senatorial candidate Camille Villar.
In a letter to Villar dated May 7, Teofisto Elnas Jr., vice-chairperson of the committee, said following her explanation, they found it insufficient to file a complaint against Villar for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification.
“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 said in the letter.
The committee earlier issued a show cause order against Villar in relation to her presence at an event in Imus, Cavite, reportedly on February 16, 2025, where raffle prizes were given away.
During the event, in which a video was posted online, the organizers thanked Villar for providing additional “saya at surpresa” to the more than 2,000 residents.
Villar earlier denied the allegations, saying the event took place on February 9 before the campaign period for the May 2025 midterm elections begins. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)