Comelec orders Michael Marcos Keon to explain vote-buying allegations

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Committee on Kontra Bigay has ordered Laoag City mayoral candidate Michael Marcos Keon to explain allegations of vote-buying.

The order stems from a social media post by The Ilocos Chronicle reporting the arrest of an alleged Keon supporter for vote-buying.

Separate reports claim money was distributed in a private location, with cellphones reportedly restricted to prevent documentation.

During the arrest of a barangay kagawad, police found campaign materials bearing Keon's name with P1,000 bills stapled to them.

Comelec cited potential violations of the Omnibus Election Code, specifically the presumption of vote-buying when money is found attached to campaign paraphernalia.

Keon has been given three days to submit his explanation to the CKB.

As of Friday, Keon stated that he had not yet officially received the show cause order and therefore could not formally respond, though he was aware of its existence from online circulation.