A total of 47 candidates for the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections were served with show cause orders for alleged premature campaigning in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, the Comission on Elections (Comelec) Provincial Office said Tuesday, October 3.
The Comelec has issued an additional show cause order to 44 more candidates on October 2, Provincial Comelec Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said.
Data showed that the municipality of E.B. Magalona has the most number of barangays with show cause orders, with a total of 23; Bacolod City with eight; Himamaylan - eight; Bago City - three; and one each in the cities Kabankalan and Sipalay.
In EB Magalona, there are 15 candidates in Brgy. Tanza and eight in Brgy. 3 Poblacion who were issued show cause orders.
In Bacolod, seven were from Brgy. 16 and two in Brgy. Estefania; Himamaylan City, all eight were from Brgy. Su-a; Bago City, two from Brgy. Ma-ao and one in Brgy. Ilijan;
One each from Brgy. Mambaroto and Canturay in Sipalay City; one in Brgy. RSB in La Carlota, and one in Brgy. Magballo in Brgy. Kabankalan City.
The Comelec earlier issued show cause orders to candidates in Bacolod City, Sipalay City, and La Carlota City.
Ananoria said all complaints are directed to their central office's Task Force Epal, but show cause orders are issued through the provincial office to be sent to the respondents.
He said the respondents are given 24 hours to answer the show cause order in the form of an affidavit or letter.
He also revealed that two candidates in Cadiz City are facing complaints for alleged violation of Comelec's Kontra Bigay campaign.
He said that they expect more show cause orders to be issued against candidates, as those who were subject to complaints will also file counter-complaints against their opponents.
Ananoria reminded candidates in the upcoming elections to wait for the scheduled campaign period set on October 19–28 with their campaign materials in conformity with the Comelec rules on prescribed sizes.*