More alleged premature campaigning violators issued show cause orders

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – More candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) continue to commit alleged premature campaigning despite the issuance of show cause orders to previous bets.

Based on data acquired by Daily Guardian from the provincial office of the Commission on Election (Comelec), the number of show cause orders issued to violators in Negros Occidental has totaled 144 as of Tuesday.

The complaints include campaign posting on social media and postering.

Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said there are confirmed reports that some candidates facing complaints, as reported by the Comelec at the national level, are also facing disqualification cases.

But he said he is unaware if some of those candidates are from Negros.

“Comelec chairman Erwin Garcia is hellbent on enforcing the law against violators,” Ananoria further said.

Adding to the list of “violators” were eight candidates from Murcia, two in Bacolod City, and eight in Binalbagan.

Ananoria said the respondents are given 24 hours to answer the show cause orders before the Anti EPAL task force, which has evidence of the complainants against them.

Comelec said premature campaigning would be treated as an election offense, and a candidate who disregards it would be liable for election code violations.

Ananoria reminded the BSKE 2023 candidates to do away with the premature campaigning and wait for the October 19 to 28 official campaign period.

“We can do all the campaigning we want legally, as prescribed by the Comelec,” he pointed out.