Cebu City (CNN Philippines, October 20) — The Commission on Elections in Central Visayas has issued show-cause orders to 483 candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) for various poll violations.
Data as of Oct. 18 showed that Cebu province has the most number of candidates (418) facing possible violations; Bohol has 56 bets; and Negros Oriental 12.
Siquijor candidates have so far steered clear of violations. Central Visayas is composed of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Lionel Castillano, Comelec Central Visayas regional director, said the candidates will have at most three days to explain upon receipt of the show-cause order.
\”They would need to answer the allegations then we proceed from that,\” said Castillano in a text message. \”That (show-cause order) will be the basis for preliminary investigation. We would ask the complainant to sign affidavits for a (possible) preliminary investigation or for a disqualification case.\”
Possible violations of the candidates are mostly \”premature campaigning,\” added Castillano.
At the start of the campaign period, BSKE candidates have begun making the rounds in Metro Cebu, most via motorcades with drum beats along with habal-habal drivers joining the parade.
Others also initiated house-to-house campaigns while supporters began mounting posters and tarpaulins in key areas of the villages.
It was generally peaceful especially in the highly populated barangays of Cebu City.
On Oct. 30, voters across 42,027 barangays nationwide will elect the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan leaders. Here are some guides to the upcoming polls: What you need to know about the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections
