MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked more local and national candidates to explain why they should not face disqualification petitions over their alleged involvement in vote-buying or use of social welfare programs during their campaign.

No vote-buying before campaign period: lawyer

Documents shared by the Comelec to reporters on Wednesday those who received show-cause orders included:

• • Rep. Camille Villar (Senate candidate)
• •Edna Cantos Villas (mayoral candidate, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro)
• •Ernilio Villas (vice mayoral candidate, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro)
• •Rep. Emerson Pascual (re-electionist)
• •Abraham Mitra (candidate, House of Representatives , Third District, Palawan)
• 
  

In the document, Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay said that Villar was onstage during an event in Barangay Buhay na Tubig in Cavite where a female winner was given a cash prize. A video of the event was posted on social media last February 16.

“You were also shown in the photographs delivering a speech and engaging with participants, including instances where individuals were shown visibly holding cash while embracing you,” the document read.

“An examination of the aforementioned 16 February 2025 FB posts reveals that you, while being a candidate for Senator in the 2025 National elections, participated in activities that involve the distribution of prizes by the candidates or their supporters or by any person in which the names of the candidates are mentioned,” the committee said.

Villar earlier denied the accusations and said she has yet to receive the Comelec order.

She explained the event in the video happened before the start of the official campaign period.

"First, as of today, I am yet to receive a Show Cause Order from the Comelec. Second, the event referred to happened last February 9, 2025, which was way before the campaign period," Villar said in a statement. 

VILLAS 

The committee also issued show-cause orders to the Villas couple, who are running as mayor and vice mayor at Bulalacao town.

It said it received a complaint against Ernilo last April 7 showing photos of him directly facilitating the distribution of P2,000 cash per recipient “under the pretense of a work program of the DSWD at a covered court in Barangay Poblacion, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro” on March 27, 28, and April 2.

“An examination of the complaint and attached evidence dated 7 April 2025 reveals that you, while being a candidate for Mayor in the 2025 National and Local Elections, gave and distributed assistance or ayuda of Two Thousand Pesos (Php. 2,000.00) per recipient in the guise of a work program of the DSWD which is not normally given to qualified individuals, during the campaign period,” the document read.

The same complaint was lodged against his wife Edna. 

MITRA

Comelec’s committee also received a complaint against Mitra, who supposedly offered free tickets to the public for a movie in two separate instances.

This is in violation of Section 26 of the Omnibus Election Code for “offering or promising something of value in consideration for someone's vote.” 

PASCUAL 

In Pascual’s case, the committee cited a Facebook video regarding a speech “asking for support in the upcoming election with a promise of giving money in two barangays in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.

In his speech, he supposedly vowed to provide financial support to individuals starting a business and that funds would be made available immediately. He also supposedly said he would pay the hospital bills of 3 individuals, cover the expenses for the medical treatment of individuals with autism in the barangay; and assured that anyone in need of assistance should approach the barangay captain, who would personally accompany them to his office.

Comelec said all candidates have a non-extendible period of 3 days from receipt of the show cause order to explain why a complaint for election offense or petition for disqualification should not be filed against them.