NEW Commission on Elections Commissioner George Garcia is pushing for the recalibration of the existing guidelines on physical campaigning for the May 9 polls to make it more suited for the current pandemic situation in the country.
Garcia, an election lawyer who was appointed to the poll body earlier this week, yesterday said he proposed for an amendment to the guidelines for in-person campaigning during the commission en banc meeting last Wednesday.
“We must understand that when the guidelines were drafted, it was during the time when we had high incidence of COVID-19 (cases). But now, we are already at Alert Level 1 and improving further,” said Garcia.
“It may be time to, not abolish (the rules), but let us recalibrate,” he added. “We can relax the guidelines, especially since the very reason for the restrictions is improving.”
He cited as an example the removal of the requirement to secure campaign permits from the local Comelec Campaign Committees (CCC) in areas under Alert Level 1. Under the existing in-person campaign guidelines of the Comelec, all candidates looking to conduct campaign rallies in a particular LGU must secure permits from the CCC.
“Why not for areas under Alert Level 1, let’s remove the requirement for a CCC permit, but the city permit will remain as it is required by law. But in areas under Alert Level 2 or 3, that’s the time we require the CCC permit. That’s my proposal,” said Garcia.
Citing his experience as an election lawyer, he said the new campaign guidelines are very tedious, adding the rules are administratively difficult to follow considering the nature of campaigning, especially for a national position.
“Particularly, the 72-hour requirement, which is the usual ground for denial, it is difficult administratively because if you go to one region from another region, you will need two different CCC permits,” he said.
Some candidates for national positions had earlier asked the Comelec to amend its campaign guidelines for being too restrictive.
Under existing guidelines, banned during campaigning are handshakes, hugs, kisses, going arm-in-arm, or any action that involves physical contact among the candidates, their companions, and the public, as well as taking selfies, and photographs.
Garcia said his fellow Comelec members are open to his proposal.
“Let us just wait for the final amendments in the resolution,” he said, adding they hope to have the amendments finalized by next week.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo welcomed the Supreme Court order suspending the Comelec’s “Oplan Baklas” operations or the tearing down of campaign materials on private properties.
“The TRO is very welcome and I am wishing that the parameters should be clarified soon,” said the opposition presidential candidate, adding the issue has to be resolved “because fairness is the most important virtue in the elections.”
Robredo’s supporters had asked the High Court to stop the poll body’s Oplan Baklas, citing their constitutional right to free expression. — With Wendell Vigilia
