Pangasinan 6th District congressional candidate Gilbert Estrella on Friday (May 2) firmly denied what he described as baseless and malicious allegations of vote buying hurled against him by incumbent Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas.

He urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to swiftly dismiss the complaint, which he characterized as a desperate act of political mudslinging aimed at salvaging a faltering re-election campaign.

The 29-year-old Estrella called on the electorate of the 6th District to critically examine the press statements released by Agabas regarding her claims of alleged massive vote buying. He emphasized that the public is in the best position to judge the credibility—or lack thereof—of such accusations.

"If there’s anything the incumbent congresswoman has proven with this shameful attempt to discredit me and the people of Pangasinan," Estrella said, "it’s that she is clutching at straws in a frantic effort to revive a campaign that has clearly lost steam and public trust."

He pointed out that the accusations lacked any specific details, evidence, or credible witnesses—hallmarks of a complaint built on imagination rather than facts. The absence of concrete incidents further undermines the legitimacy of Agabas' claims.

"While I do welcome an investigation for the sake of transparency, I urge the Comelec and our law enforcement authorities to be discerning in how they allocate their time and resources. These unfounded and fantastical claims do not merit serious attention, especially at a time when electoral bodies should be focused on ensuring clean and fair elections."

Estrella also noted the irony in the fact that Agabas, a lawyer by profession, seems to have forgotten the basic legal principle that accusations must be supported by evidence. "She knows—or should know—that unsubstantiated claims do not hold up in court. Nor does mudslinging win the hearts of the people," he said.
He further appealed for a higher level of political discourse in the remaining days of the campaign. "I call on my opponent to respect our voters and elevate the conversation. Let us offer platforms and solutions, not distractions and divisiveness. Resorting to squid tactics and smear campaigns only insults the intelligence of our electorate and further erodes public trust in our democratic processes."

Finally, Estrella reaffirmed his commitment to a principled and issue-based campaign.

"I remain focused on presenting real solutions to the challenges faced by the people of the 6th District. No amount of political noise will derail me from that mission," he concluded.