Comelec junks vote-buying complaint vs Camille Villar
The Commission on Elections' Committee on Kontra Bigay has dismissed the vote-buying allegations against Senatorial candidate and Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar.
In a letter, committee vice-chairperson Teofisto Elnas Jr. said Villar's explanation regarding the incident was satisfactory.
'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,' Elnas wrote.
Villar welcomed the decision in a press statement, saying, 'I thank the Comelec for the timely issuance of this resolution, junking the complaint of vote-buying.'
'I assure everyone that I am running on a clean platform, pursuing only my advocacies that aim to make lives better for the Filipinos,' she added.
The committee earlier issued a show cause order directing Villar to respond to an anonymous complaint, which cited a Facebook video posted on February 16. The video showed Villar on stage at an event where local candidates allegedly raffled off cash prizes.
Villar clarified that the event took place on February 9, before the official campaign period started on February 11. She also said she was merely a guest at the gathering.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Filipino Times
78% of Filipinos support impeachment trial for VP Sara Duterte — OCTA survey
A majority of Filipinos support subjecting Vice President Sara Duterte to an impeachment trial, according to a new national survey conducted by OCTA Research. The survey, conducted from April 20 to 24, revealed that 78% of respondents favor the conduct of a Senate impeachment trial for Duterte, while 13% oppose it and 9% remain undecided or expressed no opinion. Regional and Demographic Breakdown Support for the impeachment trial was strongest in the Visayas (87%), followed by the National Capital Region (83%), Mindanao (77%), and Balance Luzon (73%). Notably, unanimous support was recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region (100%), while high levels of support were also observed in Western Visayas (95%) and the Davao Region (95%). Disagreement was relatively low across most regions, though notable dissent was seen in Zamboanga Peninsula (34%), CARAGA (25%), Central Mindanao (25%), CALABARZON (21%), and BARMM (20%). Support remained consistently high across all socio-economic classes, with the strongest backing from adults aged 25–34 (84%) and 65–74 (82%). OCTA also noted that 91% of Filipinos are aware of the impeachment case filed against Vice President Duterte. Background and Legal Developments The impeachment complaint, signed by 215 members of the House of Representatives in February, accuses Duterte of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes. While the House transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate the same day, the upper chamber deferred its deliberation, with Senate President Chiz Escudero saying the reading of the complaint was postponed to June 11, ahead of Congress' sine die adjournment on June 13. Vice President Duterte has publicly welcomed the opportunity to address the allegations, stating she is 'thankful for the chance to clear her name.' However, she has also filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking to block the impeachment trial on constitutional grounds. A separate Social Weather Stations–Stratbase poll released on May 29 found that 88% of Filipinos believe Duterte should directly respond to the charges and clarify issues of corruption.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
At least 15 dead in Malaysia bus accident
9 June 2025 09:57 Kuala Lumpur (AFP)At least 15 people were killed when a bus carrying university students smashed into a minivan in northern Malaysia early on Monday, local rescue services victims died at the scene near the town of Gerik, on the busy East-West Highway close to the Thailand border, while two died in hospital. Thirty-three others were injured, including seven whose condition was critical, rescue services said in a revised statement."The bus overturned and the minivan slid into a ditch," the Perak state disaster management authority said. "Some victims managed to get out on their own, some victims were thrown out while others were still (trapped) in the bus," the authority bus was carrying students from the Sultan Idris Education University, north of Kuala Lumpur, when it collided with the minivan at around 1:00 am on Monday (1700 GMT on Sunday).Rescue services said a hydraulic cutter was needed to free six of the victims in the bus."Four had died and two others were seriously injured," the rescue services said. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered the Southeast Asian nation's Higher Education Ministry to help the victim's said in a Facebook post he and his wife Azizah were "deeply saddened" by the tragedy."Heartbreaking disasters like these that are repeated often should be a lesson to all to be careful and not to rush to pursue the destination," Anwar said. "Your lives are too precious and can't be replaced," he added.
Filipino Times
4 days ago
- Filipino Times
Marcos calls for unity, compassion on Eid'l Adha
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to embrace unity, compassion, and spiritual reflection as the country joins Muslim communities in observing Eid'l Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. 'I join our Muslim communities in commemorating Eid'l Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice,' Marcos said in his official message. Underscoring the deeper meaning of the occasion, Marcos said, 'This sacred day calls us to remember that devotion reveals itself when we are asked to release what we once believed we could never give.' He reflected on the enduring story of the Prophet Ibrahim, describing it as a reminder of the difficult moral crossroads faced by individuals and communities alike. 'The story of Prophet Ibrahim endures because it leads us to the edge, to that thin border between obedience and resistance, where the soul must decide what truly matters,' said Marcos. Marcos emphasized that the message of Eid'l Adha transcends religious ritual, urging Filipinos to engage in introspection and a renewed sense of public service. 'Eid'l Adha invites us to embark on a more difficult journey—not towards a place, but towards a state of heart,' he added. With the celebration coinciding with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage, Marcos encouraged all citizens to ask what kind of offering truly builds a better nation. 'The measure is not in how much is given, but in what is restored: the dignity where there was dismissal, fairness where there was neglect, and compassion where there was indifference.' 'May the spirit of this sacred remembrance inspire Filipinos of all faiths to respond to what our times ask of us, and to leave behind not only victory but renewal. In doing so, we affirm that sacrifice, at its best, does not vanish but uplifts, and leaves something stronger,' said Marcos.
