• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria yesterday confirmed that the Commission on Elections has issued a show cause against a candidate in Bacolod City, for an explanation on the issue of premature campaigning, while two other early campaigning complaints are also being validated by the poll body in Negros Occidental.
Ananoria said there was a complaint against a candidate in Bacolod City, where the Comelec central office established evidence, prompting the poll body to issue a show cause order for the violator to explain.
Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code says that “it shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.”
The campaign period for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will start from October 19 to 28.
The Comelec reiterated that premature campaigning would also be treated as an election offense, and a candidate who disregards it would be liable for election code violations.
Ananoria also disclosed that in Negros Occidental, two complaints of premature campaigning, which he described as unverified as it was not notarized, were sent to the Comelec central office for appropriate action.
A total of 29,640 candidates have filed their certificates of candidacy in Negros Occidental for the BSKE 2023 elections.
Of the 662 seats for the position of barangay captain, a total of 1,611 are vying for the post.
In the race for barangay councilor, where 4,634 seats are available, 15,612 aspirants filed COCs.
There are 1,882 aspirants for the position of SK chairperson and 10,535 people filed COCs for the position of SK member.*
