By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental said more show cause orders will be served against candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) for alleged premature campaigning.

Comelec-NegOcc elections supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria revealed this after the Comelec-Bacolod City issued a show cause order against a local candidate.

Ananoria said the complaints related to premature campaigning were directly forwarded to the Comelec central office.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said they have issued show cause orders to approximately 1,955 BSKE candidates nationwide due to premature campaigning.

Ananoria had earlier warned candidates that they were not allowed to campaign.

The official campaign period will be from October 19 to 28.

He emphasized that prematurely displaying streamers or banners with the candidate’s name and face would be considered premature campaigning, which is an election offense.

Complaints against such actions can be filed with Comelec.

The poll body also monitors candidates’ social media posts, but Ananoria said this is challenging due to the sheer number of candidates./DGB, WDJ