Comelec asks Urdaneta bets to explain alleged 'kissing auction'

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday asked incumbent Urdaneta, Pangasinan Mayor Rammy Parayno and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno to explain an alleged “kissing auction” that occurred during one of their campaign activities.

Comelec Task Force SAFE issued a show cause order (SCO) against the Paraynos over reports that they called an elderly woman on stage and conducted a bidding war for her kiss in exchange for cash. 

The bidding allegedly started at P1,000 and eventually reached P5,000.

Videos of the incident, which the poll body deemed as gender-based harassment, were posted on social media.

“In view of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from receipt hereof and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you,” the SCO reads.

“Failure on your part to comply with this Order shall be construed a waiver of your right to be heard and the filing of the appropriate case against you,” it added.

GMA News Online has reached out to both candidates for comment, but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

Laoag City

Meanwhile, the Comelec Committee on Kontra Bigay also issued an SCO against Laoag, Ilocos Norte mayoralty bet Michael Keon over alleged vote-buying.

The order stemmed from a report to the committee as well as a social media post dated May 8, showing one of Keon’s supporters being arrested for alleged vote-buying.

“It is the position of this Committee that the foregoing constitute possible violation of Section 261(a)2 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), as implemented by Section 26 (a), (b) of COMELEC Resolution No. 111043,” the SCO reads.

Keon was also given three days to file his response.

GMA News Online has reached out to Keon for comment, but he has yet to reply as of posting time. 

On Thursday, the Comelec Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) said it has already received over 400 reports of vote-buying, vote-selling, and abuse of state resources (ASR) for Eleksyon 2025. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.