Comelec-6 receives more than 400 complaints

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than 400 complaints on various poll-related violations were filed against candidates in Western Visayas.

Atty. Dennis Ausan, Commission on Elections (Comelec)-6 regional director, said that the Commission received around 415 complaints, mostly on premature campaigning, as of last week.

The Comelec Task Force received around 325 complaints while their office received around 90 complaints.

Of the 90 complaints, Ausan said they have filed eight cases for violation of the Omnibus Election Code on premature campaigning, as well as vote buying and initiation of a petition for disqualification.

But as to the number who were meted with disqualification, “sa ngayon wala pa tayong statistics. Several show cause orders have been issued. They were instructed to reply and this reply will be evaluated by the task force concerned. We are expecting anytime this week that the numbers will be made available by the central office,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ausan said not many campaign materials were gathered during the Oplan Baklas.

“In Region 6, it’s not so much of a problem even at the start of the election period. Admittedly, there are those who violated the rules set by the Commission, especially the rule that all campaign materials should only be posted/pasted on common poster areas designated by the Commission and private places with the consent of the owner,” he said.

Ausan said that they have initiated the removal of all campaign materials outside of those two allowed places.

But he stressed the problem is not rampant in the region.

In fact, in some municipalities, no campaign material was removed during the Oplan Baklas.