BACOLOD CITY: Two candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Occidental have been issued show cause orders by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for alleged premature campaigning.Lawyer Ian Lee Ananoria, provincial election supervisor, said the show cause orders were issued to candidates in the cities of Sipalay and Bacolod.Ananoria also said two other candidates in Cadiz City are being investigated for violation of the 'Kontra Bigay' campaign of the poll body.The poll body's Kontra Bigay policy not only prohibits candidates from giving money, but also covers the distribution of groceries and other products, Ananoria added.Ananoria pointed out that the complaints against some candidates came from the Comelec with validation by local offices.Aside from the Comelec hotlines, he also said that their offices in the different towns and cities in Negros Occidental are also accepting complaints.The Comelec has created the Committee on Kontra Bigay to handle cases versus vote buying.The Comelec has already issued 174 show cause orders against BSKE candidates of which 69 are running for barangay and 105 for SK positions.Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said these candidates will be allowed to answer their call and explain their sides to determine whether or not the poll body would file complaints against them.
