Electoral Commission Issues 19 Additional Search Warrants for Suspected Vote Purchasing and Misuse of Public Funds
Rewritten Article:
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has slapped show cause orders (SCOs) on a party-list organization and 18 individuals for accusations of vote-buying and misuse of public resources. In a memo, the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) dished out 19 new SCOs on Friday.
Among the notables getting SCOs are one party-list group, Romero Federico Quimbo (Marikina Second District) for congressional candidate, Zarah Rose Lara (Cagayan) and Danilo Fernandez (Laguna) for gubernatorial bets, Stella Quimbo (Marikina City) and Denver Chua (Cavite City) as mayoral candidates, and Rolen Paulino (Olongapo City) among others vying for mayor posts.
The vice mayoral candidate Romulo Avila (Quezon) and city/municipal councilor aspirants Marvin Venus (Baras, Rizal), Ruben Talon (Dumangas, Iloilo), Butch Suspeñe (Dumangas, Iloilo), Zake Derequito (Dumangas, Iloilo), Kristofer Esguerra (Taytay, Rizal), and Rhapsody Rivera (Cuartero, Capiz) also received SCOs.
Iran Rivera and Jeren Jude Bacas, who are non-candidates, were likewise issued SCOs.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia, in an interview, cautioned other candidates against committing acts that could be deemed as vote-buying or abuse of public resources. He emphasized the power of social media and their ability to act swiftly even without complaints.
The Comelec's crackdown on vote-buying and resource misuse has targeted several high-profile candidates, including the Vice Mayor of Manila, Isko Moreno Domagoso, and Samuel Verzosa Jr., both contesting for Manila mayor. Domagoso faces accusations of handing out ₱3,000 to public school teachers, while Verzosa allegedly distributed gifts bearing his initials during the campaign. Other local candidates under the scrutiny of SCOs are Jerry Jose (Nueva Vizcaya), Richard Kho (Masbate), Levito Baligod and Marilou Baligod (Baybay City, Leyte), Julian Edward Emerson Coseteng (Quezon City), Anna Katrina Hernandez (Bulacan), and Dale Gonzalo Rigor Malapitan (Caloocan).
Camille Villar, a senatorial candidate, is also expected to receive a show cause order due to an alleged cash raffle event during the campaign period in Imus, Cavite.
In total, as of late April 2025, Comelec has issued 74 show cause orders related to these allegations. This intensified campaign is aimed at curbing vote-buying and resource misuse in the recent elections, targeting both prominent national and local candidates, as well as some non-candidates allegedly involved in these practices.
- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued show cause orders (SCOs) to a party-list organization in Iloilo, along with 18 individuals, due to accusations of vote-buying and misuse of public resources.
- Among the candidates receiving SCOs are Rolen Paulino, a mayoral candidate in Olongapo City, and Zake Derequito, a city/municipal councilor aspirant in Dumangas, Iloilo.
- The Comelec's crackdown on vote-buying and resource misuse has expanded to several high-profile candidates, including the Vice Mayor of Manila, Isko Moreno Domagoso, who is contesting for Manila mayor.
- Camille Villar, a senatorial candidate, is expected to receive a show cause order due to an alleged cash raffle event during the campaign period in Imus, Cavite.
- The general-news and crime-and-justice sectors have been actively reporting on these SCOs issued by Comelec, with politics being a significant focus.
- The intensified campaign by Comelec aims to curb vote-buying and resource misuse in the recent elections, targeting both prominent national and local candidates from different provinces such as Marikina, Cagayan, Laguna, Cavite, and Iloilo.
