Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, October 9, that he expects the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to heat up as the October 30 polls near and the candidates should keep it non-violent.
“I can expect the campaign period to be heated but let’s limit it to verbal tussles, it does not have to get violent,” Lacson said.
“We just have to show the world that here in Negros Occidental in spite of the intensity of the campaign period no untoward violent incident will happen,” he said.
He also reiterated that it is very important for the candidates to take seriously the warning of the Comelec as far a premature campaigning is concerned.
The fact that the Comelec is issuing show cause orders shows that it is now serious about going after violators, Lacson said.
The official campaign period starts in only a few more days, and when it does the candidates should remember to keep their campaign promises, Lacson said.
The campaign period for the October 30 polls will be from October 19 to 28.
The Comelec has issued 73 show cause orders to candidates for premature campaigning and more are expected, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Monday.
Most of the show cause orders were for illegal postering in their areas, social media posts and group gatherings that were tantamount to premature campaigning, Ananoria said.
Ananoria said medical missions and feeding activities conducted by candidates are also considered violations of the vote buying rule.*