The Commission on Elections (Comelec) did not receive any application for a permit from the group of presidential candidate Leody De Guzman for their proclamation rally set for Tuesday, Feb. 8.
"Per records from NCR, they don't have any...they didn't receive any application for the conduct of any mode of campaign from the group of Ka Leody de Guzman," Comelec Director Elaiza David, a member of the poll body's National Campaign Committee, said in an online briefing Tuesday.
Bets need to secure prior approval from the Comelec Campaign Committee (CCC) before conducting in-person campaign, conventions, caucuses, meetings, miting de avance and rallies, motorcades and caravans in view of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Asked if the group will commit an election offense if they will push through with the activity, she replied in the affirmative.
"Definitely it is an election offense because the requirement is they need to seek a permit first before conducting a campaign so yes it is an election offense," said David.
Meanwhile, the Comelec has so far received 71 permit applications.
"So far the applications that was reported to us was 71 and that was for entire country," said David.
She added that only NCR and Region 3 were able to mention the names of the said candidates.
"So far in the said two regions, we have identified VP Leni (Robredo) and then Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Isko Moreno Domagoso and Sen. Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto tandem. But that doesn't mean that they were the only ones that applied," David said.
The poll official also explained why the application of VP Leni in NCR for the conduct of a rally was denied.
"The reason for the denial is because they lack Annex A so basically that's the application and special power of attorney," David said.
With regard to the denial of the application of Mayor Isko in Region 3 for the conduct of a motorcade, she said, it was denied as it was filed out of time.
"Application should be filed at least 72 hours prior to the conduct of the activity and it was filed out of time and they lack some of the requirements," said David.
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, meantime, stressed that the said denials pertain to individual campaign events only and not the entire campaign.
The campaign period for national candidates in the May 2022 polls started Tuesday, Feb. 8.