section_path: Issues/Complaints against candidates
section_name: Complaints against candidates
paragraph_text: Complaints against candidates
  
  As of April 28, 2025, COMELEC has summoned 213 candidates on various complaints, mostly regarding vote-buying and abuse of state resources. On February 28, COMELEC filed cybercrime charges against vice-mayoral candidate Jeryll Harold Respicio in Reina Mercedes, Isabela, after he posted a video on social media appearing to demonstrate a method on how to tamper with the election results. After he won the election, Comelec suspended his proclamation until June 2. Several candidates were also summoned for remarks deemed inappropriate, including some considered misogynistic or prejudiced against ethnic groups. Among them were congressional candidate Ian Sia (Pasig), Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan, reelectionist Misamis Oriental governor Peter Unabia and House representative from Davao de Oro Ruwel Peter Gonzaga. Sia was eventually disqualified by the COMELEC Second Division on May 7 over his remarks.
  
  The commission later summoned 74 individuals for alleged vote-buying, including senatorial candidate Camille Villar, Marikina mayoral candidate Stella Quimbo and husband congressional candidate Miro Quimbo, Manila mayoral candidates Honey Lacuna, Isko Moreno and Sam Verzosa, Laguna gubernatorial candidate Danilo Fernandez, Caloocan mayoral candidate Along Malapitan, congressional candidates Esmael Mangudadatu (Maguindanao del Sur), Maria Fe Abunda (Eastern Samar), and several others, including non-candidates and party-lists.