Guv urges bets to shun campaign violence

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental urged candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to avoid resorting to violence during the campaign period.

The campaign period for the BSKE will begin on October 19 and will end on October 28 while election day is October 30, 2023.

“I can expect the campaign period to be heated but verbal tussle lang it does not need to be violent,” Lacson told reporters Monday.

He added that he also expects the situation in the coming days to be more heated.

“We just have to show the world that here in Negros Occidental, in spite of the intensity of the campaign period, no untoward violent incident will happen,” Lacson said.

He also said that it is very important for the candidates to take seriously the warning of the Commission on Election (Comelec) against pre-campaigning.

“The Comelec is very serious as seen by the fact that it has issued show cause orders against those who violate the prohibitions before the campaign period starts,” Lacson pointed out.

The governor further said that “pila na lng ka adlaw campaign period will start and when this starts the candidates should remember to keep their promises.”

“What is important is there is no violence. Limit it to verbal tussle.”

Earlier, Negros Occidental Comelec supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the issuance of show cause orders against some candidates for alleged premature campaigning has lessened tensions at the barangay level.

Ananoria said that as of October 5, 2023, his office has already issued 73 show cause orders to candidates for the BSKE in Negros Occidental for alleged premature campaigning.