Comelec spox on following campaign rules: 'It's not impossible to do'

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said on Thursday, Feb. 10 that following the rules set by the poll body in campaigning is not impossible.

Jimenez made the remark in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel following a statement from Presidential candidate Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso who urged the Comelec to rethink its "no selfie" rule as it is something that is hard to avoid.

When asked, Jimenez said that he thinks that all of the candidates need some talking to and that he will be reaching out to all of them at the proper time.

"It's very important to understand also or to note also, that some campaigns have been fairly compliant, and some have been, putting forward their own solutions like some have been asking their supporters to stay home, for example," he said.

What he understands from this, according to him,is that it's not impossible to follow the rules and that ultimately, the candidate has to make the decision.

"Do they like the crowd so much that they're going to put people at risk? Or do they like the crowd so much that they want them to stay safe? That's a decision that has to be put on the shoulders of the candidates," he said.

The campaign period is just on its third day after it started on Feb. 8.

In the announcement made by the COMELEC in Resolution No. 10695 dated Feb. 10, 2021, the campaign period for the 2022 elections are as follows: Feb. 8 to May 7, 2022 will be for Presidential, Vice Presidential, Senatorial candidates and Party-list groups participating in the party-list system of representation.

March 25 to May 7, 2022 will be for members of the House of Representatives and elective regional, provincial, city and municipal officials.