Palawan bet faces show cause order over alleged vote-buying

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show cause order to Abraham Kahlil Blanco Mitra, a congressional candidate for Palawan’s 3rd District, for his alleged involvement in vote buying.

The order stems from a Facebook post dated 2 April 2025, on “Baham Mitra Official” page, in which Mitra offered free tickets to a block screening of the film Sinagtala at SM Puerto Princesa. The event, which was described as a limited-slot screening, included the following message:

BLOCK SCREENING SINAGTALA AT SM PUERTO PRINCESA.

• 𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬

• Movie: SINAGTALA 

• Venue: SM Puerto Princesa City Palawan

• Date: April 2, 2025 (Wednesday)

• Screening Time: 7:00pm

• Call Time: 6:30pm

"Isang banda. Isang samahan. Iba’t-ibang hamon ng buhay pero musika ang naging sandigan. Pakinggan ang awit ng buhay at tunghayan ang kwento ng pag-asa.

“Ito po ay FREE yes po FREE handog ni Baham Mitra ano pang inaantay ninyo txt na sa number sa ibaba para sa reservation, limited slot only.”

Comelec flagged the post as a possible violation of Section 261(a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, or the Omnibus Election Code, as reinforced by Section 26(b) of Comelec Resolution No. 11104. 

The provision states that offering or promising anything of value in exchange for a vote is presumed to be an act of vote-buying or vote-selling.

“An examination of the aforementioned 2 April 2025 Facebook post reveals that you, while being candidate for Member, House of Representatives, 3rd District, Palawan offered free movie tickets to the public for the movie Sinagtala,” the commission said. 

The Commission also noted that on 4 April 2025, Mitra posted additional photos on the same Facebook page, showing his attendance at the screening alongside his supporters and other individuals, reinforcing concerns over the alleged election offense.

Mitra has been given three days to respond to the show cause order.

He is the seventh candidate in the 2025 midterm elections to be formally asked by the Comelec to explain alleged misconduct related to campaign violations.