Comelec junks vote-buying case vs Rep. Villar

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday dismissed vote-buying charges against a Marcos-backed senatorial candidate for insufficient evidence.

In a May 7 letter signed by Vice-Chairman Teofisto E. Elnas, Jr., a Comelec committee said Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar-Genuino had “satisfactorily explained” the circumstances surrounding the alleged election offense.

“Upon evaluation of the evidence gathered, the undersigned deems the same insufficient to proceed with the filing of a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification,” he said.

Ms. Villar, who is seeking to replace her mother Cynthia in the Senate, welcomed the decision.

“I assure everyone that I am running on a clean platform, pursuing only my advocacies that aim to make lives better for Filipinos,” she said in a statement.

The Comelec committee acted on an anonymous complaint that included a Facebook video posted on Feb. 16 showing Ms. Villar on stage while local candidates allegedly raffled off cash prizes for the audience.

Ms. Villar clarified that the event took place on Feb. 9, two days before the official campaign period, adding that that she was just a guest at the event.

She is among 14 senatorial bets deemed to have a statistical chance of winning on May 12, based on a Pulse Asia survey released on Monday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. skipped her name in the last two campaign sorties but mentioned her again in an endorsement speech at an election rally in Bulacan province on May 7.

Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, whose family is in a bitter quarrel with the Marcoses, has also endorsed Ms. Villar for senator, apart from presidential sister and re-electionist Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana