2 weeks ago
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THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate Virgilio Bote for spreading lies about the state of health of a mayoralty bet in the province.
Bote, a former mayor of the municipality of General Tinio in Nueva Ecija, was quoted saying in his April 3, 2025 campaign sortie that incumbent town mayor Isidro Tino Pajarillaga is dying of stage 5 kidney cancer.
Director Bea Wee-Lozada, head of Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (Task Force SAFE), said Bote's remarks constituted a possible violation of Comelec Resolution 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for Purposes of the May 2025 National and Local Elections and BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
"In view of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to SHOW CAUSE in writing within a non-extendible period of three (3) days from receipt hereof and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you," the SCO read.
"Failure on your part to comply with this Order shall be construed as a waiver of your right to be heard and the filing of the appropriate case against you," it added.
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Bote is the fourth gubernatorial candidate to be issued a SCO for alleged violation of the Comelec guidelines on anti-discrimination and fair campaigning.
Previously, the commission also issued a similar order against gubernatorial candidates Ruwel Peter Gonzaga of Davao de Oro, Peter Unabia of Misamis Oriental and Jay Ilagan of Batangas.
