35 BSKE candidates slapped with DQ petition for premature campaigning

The Commission on Elections Task Force "Anti-Epal" on Friday filed disqualification petitions against 35 candidates in Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections due to premature campaigning.

In a media interview, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the decision to disqualify erring candidates will be released before the election day on 30 October.

Laudiangco stressed that Comelec is "serious in enforcing all measures" to secure orderly and fair elections nationwide.

"Hindi po nagbibiro ang Comelec sa pagpapatupad ng election laws. This is the start," Laudiangco warned.
"Makakaasa po kayo na next week, marami pa pong masasampahan ng kaso," he added.

The Comelec previously said about 199 possible disqualification charges may be filed against misbehaving election candidates.

The poll body also noted that the monitoring for other possible violations will continue during the campaign period from 19 to 28 October.

Laudiangco noted that Comelec is adamant not only to disqualify candidates "but also put them in prison if found liable for criminal or election offense charges."

The Comelec vowed to a whole-of-government approach for the BSK elections. This came as the poll body signed an agreement with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to intensify the campaign against vote buying, and vote selling, as well as expanding the poll monitoring efforts in all areas nationwide.

It is also set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Public Attorney's Office on 2 October.

The Comelec said it working closely with the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Education, among others, for a safe, peaceful, and credible Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this year.