By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental has now issued a total of 125 show-cause orders (SCOs) against candidates for allegedly engaging in premature campaigning for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, Comelec-NegOcc elections supervisor, said they recorded an additional nine incidents of alleged premature campaigning in Bago City, and another nine in Calatrava town.

Ananoria said they expect to receive more complaints related to early campaigning.

Political candidates are prohibited from displaying campaign materials on public streets, producing election-related materials, and promoting their advocacy through various platforms until the official campaign period begins.

The official campaign period for the BSKE is from October 19 to 28.

Meanwhile, Ananoria said they have issued summons to five BSKE candidates allegedly engaged in vote-buying activities.

Vote-buying and vote selling are defined as “giving, offering or promising money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to induce anyone to vote for or against any candidate.”

The illegal activities are considered election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code.

The violation carries the penalties of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification from holding public office, and removal of the right of suffrage.

Earlier, the Comelec national office revealed that they are planning to file at least 40 vote buying cases before the start of the campaign period.

Ananoria said they have not recorded incidents of heated political rivalry in the province so far.

He said the provincial poll body has met with officials from the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, assuring that there will be no power interruptions during the election day on October 30./DGB, WDJ