DUMAGUETE CITY, July 15 -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia issued a stern warning on Wednesday to candidates of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) against leveraging government resources to advance their campaigns.

Speaking at a press conference in Bais City, Negros Oriental, Garcia said that while the implementation of public programs and the distribution of financial assistance are not entirely prohibited, local government units must first secure a formal Comelec exemption.

He also underscored the need to monitor who is utilizing state resources, noting that some politicians improperly treat public funds as their own personal assets for political leverage.

To prevent accusations of v...