Over 100 BSKE bets face disqualification

MANILA, Philippines — More than 100 candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30 are facing disqualification, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported yesterday.

The Comelec said it received 130 petitions for disqualification due to various election offenses as of Thursday.

At least 43 of the petitions are to declare certain candidates as nuisance bets, cancel certain certificates of candidacy (COCs)  and disqualify over some issues. The rest have yet to be formally filed.

“We expect more to be filed,” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said.

In a television interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body issued show-cause orders to nine candidates on Thursday and 30 others yesterday for premature campaigning.

Garcia said there are no formal complaints against the 39, noting that claims of premature campaigning are based only on social media posts.

“They will have to explain their side within three days from receipt,” he said, referring to the show-cause orders.

For formal complaints, Garcia said, the Comelec would issue subpoenas.

The Comelec said 1,414,487 COCs were filed across the country for the BSKE.