The Commission on Elections has issued show cause orders to 39 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates who may face stiff sanctions, including disqualification for premature campaigning ahead of the October 30 village polls.
In a radio interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the candidates were ordered to explain why the agency “would not file disqualification cases against them after the poll body saw them on social media.”
“The 39 candidates are separate from the 128 petitions for disqualification submitted to Comelec after the period of filing of certificates of candidacy,” Garcia said over TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
He said there were no complaints against them, but the commission saw them on social media.
“There are too many posts on social media and reported to us through text messages,” he added.
Garcia said Comelec will issue a decision on the disqualification petitions before the polls next month.
“We will charge you and will surely disqualify you since you have already filed your Certificate of Candidacy (COC) and are engaging in premature campaigning, which is prohibited,” the Comelec chairman said.
Under the rules, it is unlawful to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.