WITH only four days left before the official start of the campaign period for this year’s national and local polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday advised political aspirants to remove oversized campaign materials posted in prohibited areas and stop activities disallowed by the poll body.
In a virtual press briefing, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez reminded all candidates that the rules on campaigning will already take effect on February 8, with national candidates already accountable for violations under the law.
“By February 8, that will be problematic for them. We will inform them ahead of time that they will have to take down all of these previously posted materials that are in violation of our rules,” said Jimenez, adding: “But for now, well, enjoy the last few days that they are still outside the ambit of our regulations.”
Jimenez has repeatedly said the poll body was powerless with regards premature campaigning activities and paraphernalia, such as massive billboards and rallies, as it is not yet within the campaign period.
Similarly, the poll body also said aspirants will only be considered as candidates and, thus, liable for campaign violations, once the country enters the campaign period.
For candidates for national position, the campaign period will run from February 8 until May 7, 2022.
For candidates for local posts, on the other hand, it will run from March 25 until May 7, 2022.
Jimenez said there are fewer premature campaigning materials posted in the streets today as compared to previous elections.
“For the most parts, a lot of places don’t have as many posters as they used to be,” he said.
Still, the poll official said they are already preparing to conduct operations to take down illegal campaign materials.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told soldiers to remain non-partisan in the coming elections as the police and military launched a campaign for peaceful elections.
During a visit at Camp Kibaritan in Bukidnon on Wednesday, Lorenzana also told soldiers to ensure a peaceful transition of national and local leaders who will be elected in the May polls.
“As my term as SND (Secretary of National Defense) is about to end, I thank each and every one of them for the solid support that have accorded me,” said Lorenzana, a retired Army general who became the DND chief at the start of the Duterte administration in 2016.
“I also reminded them to stay non-partisan and apolitical during the upcoming national elections and do their best to ensure a smooth transition of national and local leadership,” he also said.
The Armed Forces had been deputized by the Comelec to perform election-related duties in the coming elections.
Meanwhile, the PNP, AFP, Philippine Coast Guard, Comelec and other stakeholders launched yesterday the Secure, Accurate, Free and Fair National and Local Elections or SAFE NLE 2022 Kasimbayanan in Camp Crame.
Kasimbayanan is an acronym for “Kapulungan ng inyong Pulis, ng inyong Sundalo, ng inyong Bantay Dagat, ng ating Comelec, at lahat ng Lingkod Bayan kasama ang Simbahan at Pamayanan.”
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the endeavor is consistent with President Duterte’s pronouncements of having a “vibrant democracy where there is respect for the rule of law and the Constitution, where regular transfer of power is guaranteed through free and honest elections, and where the Filipino people trust a government that is clean, efficient, effective, God-fearing, and people-centered.”
“This activity is just to jumpstart the advocacy for a safe election. Actually, we are a month late. We were supposed to have this first week of January but I and the (AFP) chief of staff tested positive for Covid,” said Carlos.
Carlos said the PNP plans to deploy policemen days prior to the elections compared to the previous polls.
“We will have more policemen on the ground. We will have bigger number of QRF (Quick Reaction Force),” Carlos said without giving figures.
Carlos said the PNP will also have smaller number of Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) members unlike in previous elections.
“We maintained a very big reserve force (in the past). This time, it’s going to be minimal. There will be lesser number of RSSF personnel because they will be (deploy) them 10 days before the elections,” said Carlos.
Centino said the AFP and the PNP will continue to coordinate with the Comelec “to ensure we are able to provide the adequate forces for deployment to areas where there are potential problems when the election comes, when the election day nears.” — With Victor Reyes
