ILOILO City – “Wala pa ang Region 6 violators… In other words, mabuot gid kita ya,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional director Atty. Dennis Ausan.
Since the first day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) on Aug. 28 until Wednesday, Sept. 13, there have been zero reports from city and municipal election offices in the region of candidates engaging in premature campaigning for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Ausan said this simply showed that the 148,005 candidates (89,309 males and 59,695 females) have been, so far, obedient and compliant with the election code.
The official campaign period is from Oct. 19 to 28.
Ausan hoped candidates and even their supporters from 4,051 barangays in the region could maintain this until the end of the election period.
Here is the breakdown of the candidates per province:
* Aklan – 11,613
* Antique – 20,789
* Capiz – 16,957
* Guimaras – 3,601
* Iloilo – 65,405
* Negros Occidental – 29,640
Comelec-6 data further showed the following:
* punong barangay – 9,247 candidates
* barangay kagawad – 76,051 candidates for 28,357 vacant positions
* SK chairperson – 9,783 candidates for 4,051 vacant positions
* SK kagawad – 52,924 candidates for 28,357 vacant positions
Yesterday, Ausan met with all provincial election supervisors (PES) in the region and among their agenda items was premature campaigning.
He explained that campaigning is prohibited from the day a candidate files their COC until Oct. 18.
Not only are the candidates covered by the prohibition but all supporters, he added.
Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code states that “it shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.”
The poll body reiterated that premature campaigning would also be treated as an election offense, and a candidate who disregards this would be liable for election code violations.
“Premature campaigning is one of those election offenses provided by law, just like gun and liquor bans. It is still an election offense, which carries with it the criminal aspect, or even the electoral aspect, kon kandidato sia,” Ausan reminded.
On the criminal aspect, Ausan said violation could lead to imprisonment of at least one year to six years and deprivation of the right to suffrage, depending on the court.
On the electoral aspect, it may carry a perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“Kon ano ang gintalana nga campaign period, didto na lang gid kita ya makampanya. That would be on Oct. 19 to 28. Indi pagpakita sa aton nga constituents or magiging constituents nga wala kita ya nagasunod sa laye nga wala pa kita nakapungko,” Ausan said.
Candidates were also encouraged to visit Comelec field offices to be guided on the dos and don’ts during the election period.
As of Sept. 13, Comelec data showed that, across the country, 174 candidates — 69 running for barangay and 105 running for SK positions — are set to receive show cause orders as part of the poll body’s push against premature campaigning.
According to Comelec chairperson George Garcia, these candidates will be allowed to answer their call and explain their sides to determine whether or not the poll body will file complaints against them.
“Kahit na ito ay show cause lamang, parang part ng investigation process natin, binibigyan natin ang lahat na magkaroon ng pagkakataon na sumagot. You call that due process. Ayaw natin na basta tayo mag-file ng kaso na hindi naman natin napag-aaralan mabuti,” Garcia said in a press conference on Wednesday.
As early as July, Comelec has been warning BSKE aspirants of premature campaigning, which involves but is not limited to hanging posters and handing out flyers ahead of the campaign period.
Here are the important dates in line with the 2023 BSKE:
* Aug. 28 to Nov. 29 – election period, gun ban
* Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 – filing of COC
* Sept. 3 to Oct. 18 – campaign is prohibited
* Oct. 19 to Oct. 28 – campaign period
* Oct. 29 to Oct. 30 – campaigning is prohibited, liquor ban
* Oct. 30 – election day (voting hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
* Nov. 29 – last day to file Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. (With a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)/PN
