Comelec ordered over 100 BSKE aspirants to explain possible election offenses

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 10) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued show cause orders to at least 100 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan aspirants for possible election offenses, including premature campaigning.

“On number of candidates issued show cause orders – 102 po. Aaraw-arawin po natin [We’ll do this everyday],” Comelec chairman George Garcia said Sunday.

A week after the filing of certificates of candidacies (COC), Comelec began removing several campaign paraphernalia posted in different areas in the country.

Comelec consistently warned against early campaigning as the campaign period will only run from October 19 to October 28. 

The poll body also stressed that aspirants are already considered candidates once they have filed their COCs.

Garcia earlier said even social media posts promoting aspirants before the start of the campaign period are unlawful and called on rivals to file complaints against candidates who would violate the law.

“Yung mga may social media posts, tanggalin ninyo 'yan. Yung mga may Tiktok, tanggalin ninyo 'yan. Susulatan namin kayo and you have to remove the campaign materials within three days,” Garcia emphasized.

“Ang aming pakiusap, yung mga magkakalaban, sila ang mag-report. Bantayan na lang yan."

[Translation: Those with social media posts, those on Tiktok, should take them down. We will write to you and you have to remove the campaign materials within three days. We ask rivals to make the reports.]