Partido Reporma presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and vice presidential aspirant Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make the rules on campaigning more realistic and practical in accordance to the Inter-Agency Task Force’s (IATF) guidelines.
Lacson said that as far as the Lacson-Sotto tandem is complying with the rules set by the poll body.
However, the senator said there have been many instances that other candidates and tandems have blatantly violated health and safety protocols as well as campaign rules but were not sanctioned by the Comelec.
“They should also sanction other candidates. Let’s see if there would be any candidates left,” Lacson said during a press briefing in Pasay City.
Sotto, for his part, said the poll body should have prioritized the cases of candidates who are facing serious disqualification cases, rather than sanction those who just “took a selfie” with a supporter.
“Do we have to ask for permission for each and every activity we are going to do? Tell me, is that practical?” Sotto pointed out.
“Since when did the Comelec become the DOH (Department of Health),” he further said.
Lacson also questioned the Comelec for disallowing candidates’ supporters from putting up tarpaulins or campaign posters within private property.
“That’s a constitutional issue...I think they should revisit that,” Sotto said.