Senate Candidate Camille Villar at the Brittany Hotel, Villar City, in Bacoor City on April 23, 2024.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — The Commission on Elections said there was “insufficient” evidence to proceed with a disqualification petition against Senate candidate Camille Villar for alleged vote-buying.

Comelec earlier noted that Villar was seen standing onstage with local candidates in Cavite while a female "winner" of an event received money. The poll body had asked Villar to explain why she should not face disqualification for the incident. 

Comelec orders Camille Villar to explain alleged vote-buying

In her answer to the show cause order, Villar denied the alleged vote-buying incident on Feb. 9, which was “prior to the start of the campaign period for senatorial candidates,” Comelec noted.

No vote-buying before campaign period: lawyer

Villar added that the incident happened at an ALLTV2 Network promotional event, where she was invited as a guest.

“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,” the poll body said in a May 7 reply to Villar. 

“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,” Kontra Bigay committee vice chairperson Teopisto Elnas Jr. said. 

Villar was among 14 Senate candidates who had a statistical chance of making it to the "winners' circle", according to a Pulse Asia survey conducted in late April and released last Monday.