BACOLOD City – With the official campaign period for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in Negros Occidental set from Oct. 19 to 28, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson advises candidates to keep their campaigns free from violence and restrict confrontations to “verbal tussles.”
Though Lacson anticipates that the 10-day campaign will be intense, he hopes it remains peaceful.
“We aim to demonstrate that our campaign period in Negros Occidental is peaceful and devoid of any untoward incidents,” he said.
Addressing the reports of some candidates engaging in premature campaigning, the governor echoed the warnings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and stressed the importance for BSKE candidates to uphold their promises to the people.
Ian Lee Ananoria, the provincial elections supervisor, reported that as of Oct. 9, 73 show-cause orders had been issued to candidates across eight local government units (LGUs) for alleged premature campaigning.
A significant portion of these, 40 in total, were from E.B. Magalona town, followed by 10 from Bacolod City.
The remaining counts were from Himamaylan City (eight), Bago City (six), Victorias City (four), Kabankalan City and Sipalay City (two each), and La Carlota City (one).
Alleged premature campaigning activities reported included distributing cash and grocery items and soliciting campaign support from barangay leaders. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
