(UPDATE) THE Commission on Elections issued a show cause order (SCO) against Bustos, Bulacan Vice Mayor Martin Angeles over several complaints of vote buying filed through the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay.
In a one-page order signed by lawyer Numer Lobo, Comelec Regional Election Officer for Central Luzon, Angeles was given a non-extendible period of three days why a complaint for election offense or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.
The order came with a stern warning that failure on the part of Angeles to comply would be considered a waiver on his right to be heard and the Comelec would proceed to hear the case based on the merit.
The SCO was issued past 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, less than 36 hours before the electorate goes to the polls to elect their candidates for the lo-cal, congressional and senatorial seats being contested in the midterm elections.
Among others, Angeles is being made to explain the documented instances in the complaint that allegedly showed him giving away not only campaign materials weeks before the elections but also P1,000 bills inserted inside his campaign paraphernalia.
In another instance, one of Angeles’ in-laws was seen tossing out bills of money at a crowd watching a basketball game that his camp organized.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that the poll body would withhold the proclamation of candidates with pending complaints be-fore the commission.
According to Garcia, even if a candidate with pending cases wins the election and proclaimed, the Comelec can still file election offense cases which are punishable by perpetual disqualification from office and one to six years imprisonment.
Garcia said that there were still a lot of vote-buying and abuse of state resources cases pending before the commission, adding that they expect more cases would be filed even after the May 12 polls.
Garcia also called on the public to report any incidents or violations of Comelec rules and guidelines, assuring citizens that it would be act-ed upon immediately by the commission.
“Just post the violations on social media. You don’t need sworn affidavit or a formal complaint, the Comelec will act motu proprio and file a disqualification case,” added Garcia as he assured due process to erring candidates.