Comelec drops vote-buying complaint vs. Camille Villar

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

In a letter dated May 7, the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay informed Villar that it accepts her explanation regarding her presence in a February event in Imus, Cavite, where cash prizes were given to the attendees. (PNA file photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is no longer pursuing the vote-buying complaint against administration senatorial candidate and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.

In a letter dated May 7, the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay informed Villar that it accepts her explanation regarding her presence in a February event in Imus, Cavite, where cash prizes were given to the attendees.

“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,” Teopisto Elnas, the committee’s vice chairman, said in the letter, a copy of which was issued to the media on Thursday.

“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.

Elnas said several affidavits submitted to the committee attested that the event took place on Feb. 9, days before the Feb. 11 start of the campaign period for candidates seeking national posts in the May 12 midterm elections.

The video was just belatedly posted on social media on Feb. 16, he said.

The committee issued a show-cause order against Villar last month after a video of her attendance at the event circulated online.