Lawyer Gay Enumerables, COMELEC-Davao assistant regional director, told Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday that several aspirants flocked to the offices of COMELEC-Davao during the COC filing from August 28 to September 2.
She reminded official candidates to refrain from premature campaigning as it will be ground for disqualification from the election.
Enumerables said that candidates who are guilty of premature campaigning may be imprisoned from one year to six years and suffer a perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
She said campaign period starts on October 19 until 29.
The COMELEC-Davao recorded a total of 9,519 official candidates in Davao de Oro, 10,030 in Davao del Norte, 8,030 in Davao City, 9,239 in Davao del Sur, 3,568 in Davao Occidental, and 7,251 in Davao Oriental.
Enumerables said the COMELEC has not yet received any complaints against or petitions to declare any of the official candidates as “nuisance.[]
She said that candidates who are relatives within second degree of any incumbent elective government officials would be disqualified from running in the SK election, but this prohibition does not apply to candidates in the barangay election.
Enumerables reminded the aspirants that BSK elections are “non-political” and, as such, candidates cannot be part of political parties during the campaign. Violation of this prohibition, she added, will constitute an election offense.
She said there are no areas in the region that are placed under areas of concern due to election-related violence.[]
