PRESIDENTIAL cousin and reelectionist Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon is being accused of engaging in vote-buying activities days before the May 12 polls.
This as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) on Friday, May 9, 2025, issued a show cause order (SCO) against Keon, and is being made to explain allegations against him.
"In light of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from receipt hereof, and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you," said Comelec-CKB Vice Chair Teopisto Elnas.
"You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with the show cause order shall be considered as waiver of your right to be heard and the filing of the appropriate case/s against you," he added.
Based on the SCO, the Comelec-CKB has received a report alleging that Keon is giving away money to people in exchange for their votes.
"I would like to report a vote-buying activity here in Laoag City, where the mayor as of now, Michael Keon, give money to people for their votes. He goes to the house of a coordinator and gives money himself to the people. They even restrict the use of a cellphone so that there will be no evidence of what they are doing," said the SCO, quoting the complainant.
The CKB also cited a report from the Ilocos Chronicle dated May 8, 2025, showing that a supposed Keon supporter was arrested by the police in Barangay 48-A Cabungaan, Laoag City.
"(The supporter) is currently detained at the Laoag City Police Station for alleged vote-buying," said the Comelec.
Vote buying is considered an election offense. (Anton Banal/SunStar Philippines)