DAVAO CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) XI has reminded the candidates of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the region to refrain from premature campaigning not until the election period starts or else face election-offense charges.
“Dapat walang mag premature campaigning because totohanin talaga, filan gyud og kaso ang katong mga nagkampanya prematurely (There should be no premature campaigning because we really make sure to file a case to those who campaign prematurely),” COMELEC-XI Assistant Regional Director lawyer Gay Enumerables threw a stern warning during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Sept. 4.
“Kasi duha man gud ang padulngan sa atoang premature campaigning: One is of course it’s an election offense ano sya criminal in nature – preso ang penalty niya, tapos the other one is disqualification so medyo bug-at gyud ‘sya (Those who are involved in premature campaigning will face two consequences: One is, of course, it’s an election offense which is criminal in nature – imprisonment, then the other one is disqualification, so it’s quite heavy),” Enumerables explained.
She noted that 2023 BSKE candidates are only allowed to conduct their respective campaigns from October 19 to October 28.
Under Sec. 80 and Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, as an election offense, premature campaigning is punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years, as well as disqualification from holding public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.
After the six-day filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC), COMELEC-XI recorded a total of 2,932 candidates for Punong Barangay; 25,587 candidates for Sanguniang Barangay Members; 3,050 Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson candidates; and 16,068 SK members candidates.
Enumerables said that so far, they have not received complaints regarding premature campaigning in the region, only the recently apprehended campaign posters posted in the southern part of the city, which have been removed already.
She admitted though that they have difficulties monitoring these kinds of illegal acts, especially on social media, however, all interested parties who want to help them are welcome.
The public, especially the candidates themselves, are encouraged to report and file complaints against those who conducted premature campaigning or any election-related offense for them to file appropriate charges against the offenders.
“Mag-adtu sila sa amua, magsubmit sila ng affidavit of complaint… kailangan talaga may complainant (They should come to us to submit affidavit of complaint. There should be a complainant). But if we see it ourselves, pwede kami on our part na mag initiate sa complaint (it’s on our part to initiate the complaint,” she added.
Meanwhile, Enumerables urged the BSKE candidates in the region to be responsible, as expressed in their #ResponsablengKandidato campaign for the 2023 BSKE. (ASO/CLC, PIA-XI)
