The campaign guidelines issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the entire campaign period is difficult to implement, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) admitted on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
But DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said they are working closely with other government agencies, especially the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that the rules are properly observed especially in campaign sorties.
Aside from the PNP, Malaya confirmed that the DILG field officials are also being trained to keep them abreast with the intricacies of the Comelec Resolution 10732 guidelines under certain Alert Level Systems.
“Pero ang panawagan po ng DILG sana po mag self police ano, mag-self police na yung mga kandidato. Alam naman po nila yung batas. Sana po sila yung manguna sa pagsunod sa batas para po yung kanilang mga supporters ay sumunod din sa kanila (The DILG is calling for the candidates to self police. Hopefully they lead the way in observing the law to make their supporters follow them),’’ Malaya said.
Despite the odds, Malaya said the DILG has prepared enforce the Comelec campaign activity guidelines with several weeks of preparation and continuous close coordination with the poll body.
He added that DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, with the agency being deputized by the COMELEC, issued directives to the PNP, AFP and barangay officials for the need to strictly enforce all the provisions stated in COMELEC Resolution No. 10732 particularly Sections, 12, 14, 15 and 16 which pertains to the allowable campaign activities corresponding to the Alert Levels of the area.
Aside from the directives, Malaya disclosed that Año assigned field officials to be active members of the Comelec Campaign Committee from the regions down to the municipal level.