Comelec: No election law violation in official's cash-giving video

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) stated that no election laws were violated by a Negros Oriental official who was seen in a viral video throwing P500 bills at a crowd.

COMELEC Chairman George Garcia explained that the individual, an aspirant for the May 2025 elections, cannot be penalized under election laws because the campaign period has not yet commenced.

According to the Peñera Doctrine, an individual is only considered a candidate once the official campaign period begins, which for local elective posts starts on March 28, 2025.

Garcia reiterated that the act of giving away money prior to the official campaign period does not constitute a violation because the aspirant is not yet covered by election law.

Nevertheless, Garcia mentioned that residents or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) can still file a complaint.