The Commission on Elections has issued show cause orders to 44 more Negros Occidental Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) candidates for alleged premature campaigning, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Tuesday, October 3.
That brings the number of candidates issued show cause orders in Negros Occidental to 47, with three from Bacolod, Sipalay and La Carlota cities issued similar orders earlier.
The 44 new show cause orders were issued to 23 candidates in EB Magalona, eight in Bacolod City, eight in Himamaylan City, three in Bago City and one each in Sipalay City and Kabankalan City.
The Comelec Anti-Epal Task Force show cause orders require candidates to explain why they should not be charged for committing an election offense.
Those found guilty could face disqualification from holding office and imprisonment of up to six years, Ananoria said.
More show cause orders are expected to be issued against candidates in Negros Occidental, he said.
Ananoria reminded candidates to refrain from premature campaigning and vote buying.
The official BSKE campaign period is set October 19 to 28, he pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) will take up the security plans for the BSKE in Negros Occidental at a meeting on Wednesday, October 3.
They will also discuss the deployment of troops, especially in Election Areas of Concern under the Red category, Ananoria said.
PJSCC will assess the 51 barangays tagged as Election Areas of Concern in Negros Occidental to determine if some can be downgraded and if more need to be added to the list, Ananoria said.*