NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to limit their campaign to verbal tussle and avoid violence.
"It doesn't have to be violent," Lacson said.
The governor made the reminders with 10 days to go before the start of the campaign.
Lacson said he expects the BSKE campaign "to be heated."
"We just have to show the world that here in Negros Occidental, in spite of the campaign period, no untoward violent incident will happen. What is important is for candidates to heed the warning of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as far as premature campaigning is concerned," he pointed out.
Lacson also told candidates to "Keep your promises!"
Provincial election supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said most of the show cause orders released by the national office are in violation of premature campaigning, especially with postering and activities of different political aggrupations.
"We cannot yet determine if the issuance of the show cause orders will affect politics at the barangay level," Ananoria said.
As of October 9, the Comelec has issued 73 show cause orders to candidates in Negros Occidental.
The campaign period starts from Oct. 19 to 28, with the elections slated on Oct. 30.*