By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental said there are no local candidates in the recently-concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) who have been issued disqualification cases yet.

Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, Comelec-NegOcc elections supervisor, said they are awaiting the en banc’s decision after numerous election-related complaints were filed against some local BSKE candidates last month.

The Comelec is expected to hand down disqualifications in the coming days.

Comelec-NegOcc received numerous complaints on premature campaigning and vote buying, electoral offenses that could also lead to a candidate’s disqualification.

The Comelec-Central Office has already disqualified 39 BSKE candidates across the country due to various electoral offenses, such as premature campaigning, misrepresentation of certificates of candidacy, vote buying, nuisance candidates, and those who are facing criminal, civil or administrative charges.

Earlier, a candidate for village councilman in E.B. Magalona town was not allowed to assume his post after the Comelec released an order suspending his proclamation for alleged premature campaigning.

Meanwhile, Ananoria also reminded BSKE candidates to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) on or before Wednesday, November 29.

This came after the provincial poll body reported a low turnout in the SOCE filing.

Republic Act 7166 said if a candidate fails to file his or her SOCE before the deadline, it may result in penalties, and he or she may even be barred from holding public positions.

Administrative fines range between P1,000 and P30,000 on the first offense, and P2,000 to P60,000 plus perpetual disqualification from holding public office on the second offense./DGB, WDJ