BSKE bets violating election laws face ban from seeking public office

CANDIDATES found violating election laws in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) face ban from seeking public office, according to the national poll body.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia issued the warning on Wednesday as the Comelec prepares for the filing of an initial 110 disqualification cases against candidates who allegedly violated the ban on premature campaigning.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia holds a press conference on the Comelec Task Force Against Premature Campaigning in Relation to the October 30, 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. PHOTO BY: RENE H. DILAN

Garcia said that aspirants should not take for granted the Comelec's campaign for a clean and honest elections.

As of Sept.26, 2023, the poll body has issued a total of 2,558 show cause orders (SCOs). Of the number, 160 have been dropped for lack of factual basis, while 304 respondents have, so far, responded to the SCOs.

The Comelec describes premature campaigning as an act “to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office” before the official campaign period.

Acts classified as premature campaigning include forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of persons for the purpose of soliciting votes; holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades or other similar assemblies; making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate for public office; publishing or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate; and directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate.

The Comelec has also recently teamed up with the Department of Justice (DoJ) to put a stop to the long-standing problem of vote buying and vote selling during elections.

Garcia said the “Kontra Bigay” agreement.with the justice department would strengthen the Comelec's war against vote buying and selling that would set the tone for free and honest polls in the coming BSKE and all other future elections.

“The only way to weed out and fight this evil of what we call vote buying and vote selling is to nip the bud so to speak and the only way to do that is to prosecute and prosecute with firmness,” added Garcia.

Garcia said that vote buying is usually done 10 days before and on the day of the elections, and “we are preparing for that.” The campaign period for the BSKE will be from October 19 to 28. Based on Comelec records, there were 1,414,487 aspirants in the BSKE. Of the number, 96,962 for barangay captain; 731,682 for members of Sangguniang Barangay; 92,774 aspirants for Sangguniang Kabataan; and 493,069 for Sangguniang Kabataan council Under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, giving, offering, or promising money or anything of value to induce anyone to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election is prohibited.

Vote buying is an election offense punishable by disqualification and one to six years imprisonment.