Senatorial candidate Camille Villar on Tuesday denied allegations of vote-buying, asserting that the event in Imus, Cavite, took place on 9 February—prior to the start of the 90-day official campaign period for national candidates.

Villar issued the statement after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that it would issue a show-cause order against her following a complaint about her appearance at an event in Brgy. Buhay na Tubig, where cash was allegedly distributed as raffle prizes.

The video, submitted by an anonymous complainant, showed Camille on stage along with local candidates.

“I have been made aware of statements from the Comelec Committee on Kontra-Bigay (CKB) that a show-cause order will be issued to me in connection with an event held in Imus, Cavite earlier this year…I vehemently deny any allegation or insinuation of vote buying or commission of any election offense for that matter,” Villar asserted. 

Villar is running for senator under the administration ticket, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas. She is also being endorsed by Vice President Duterte, a former ally turned critic of the Marcos administration.

The incumbent Las Piñas lawmaker said she has yet to receive the show cause order but is confident that the poll body “will clear my name of these wrongful allegations upon hearing my side on the matter.”

According to Comelec executive director Teopisto Elnas Jr., head of the CKB, the video sent to them was uploaded on social media on 12 February. 

But Villar maintained that the event took place on 9 February—two days before the official campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups began.

The campaign period for both national and local candidates will end on 10 May.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying or selling is punishable by up to six years imprisonment without probation, disqualification from holding public office, losing the right to vote, and a fine of no less than P10,000 for political parties involved.

As of April, the Comelec said it had received 23 reports of vote-buying and vote-selling ahead of the 12 May midterm elections.