The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will file this week disqualification cases against at least 66 candidates for the October barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) for alleged premature campaigning, poll body chairman George Garcia said on Sunday.
“Based on our initial assessment, it looks like we would file 66 disqualification cases. We expect the number will still increase because we will have more show cause cases to file in the next few days,” Garcia said in a radio interview.
Comelec data showed the poll body has issued a total of 1,955 show cause orders to BSKE candidates as of Saturday. At least 228 candidates have answered.
Garcia said Comelec dropped 104 complaints as they have no factual basis.
Among the reasons for the disqualification cases are the hosting of raffle draws and the posting materials that include the names and positions that candidates are running for.
Some candidates also use social media to campaign ahead of the official campaign period set from October 19 to October 28, Garcia said.
“Regardless of what platform you use, that is premature campaigning,” he added.
Garcia said the disqualification cases to be filed this week will be raffled to various Comelec divisions that would conduct hearings and rule on the cases.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco earlier explained that the manual BSKE was not covered by a Supreme Court decision which said that those who have filed their certificates of candidacy were not considered candidates until the start of the campaign period.
Thus, putting up posters before the election period may be considered premature campaigning.
“Section 80 on premature campaigning of the Omnibus Election Code applies,” Garcia said.