Manila: Nine candidates in the upcoming May 12 elections, including three individuals running for mayor in Metro Manila, have been issued show cause orders by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for alleged infractions.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia announced that Task Force Kontra Bigay has directed the nine candidates to provide explanations in response to accusations of vote buying and misuse of government resources during their election campaigns.

The candidates facing scrutiny include Manila mayoral bets Francisco Domagoso and Samuel Versoza Jr., and Caloocan mayoral candidate Dale Gonzalo Rigor Malapitan. Other candidates include Julian Edward Emerson Coseteng, running for the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Quezon City; Baybay City, Leyte mayoral candidate Marilou Baligod; and lawyer Levito Baligod, vying for a seat in the House of Representatives for Baybay City, Leyte. Anna Kathrina Marcelo Hernandez, Jerry Jose, and Richard Kho, running for various local government positions, are also under investigation.

Domagoso, also known as Isko Moreno, must explain allegations of dispensing PHP3,000 to public school teachers, while Versoza faces accusations of distributing goods with his initials. Malapitan has been questioned over giving out PHP3,225, and Coseteng allegedly offered GCash prizes valued at PHP500.

The Baligods have been implicated in a raffle with prizes featuring their names and likenesses. Meanwhile, Jose and Hernandez must clarify their involvement in distributing hogs and handing out dish racks, electric fans, rice, and shirts, respectively. Lastly, Kho has been asked to respond to allegations of using emergency alerts to broadcast candidate names.

The candidates have a non-extendible three-day period from the receipt of the show cause orders to justify why an election offense complaint or disqualification petition should not be filed against them. Comelec has warned that non-compliance will be regarded as a waiver of their right to be heard.