Philippines
Campaign rules meant for security, not to disqualify candidates - Comelec spox
Campaign rules meant for security, not to disqualify candidates - Comelec spox
By Dhel Nazario
New guidelines such as securing a permit first from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) before conducting campaign rallies or other election-related gatherings were meant to protect the supporters and not to sanction the candidates, the poll body's spokesperson said on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Director James Jimenez made the statement in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel, after presidential candidate Ka Leody De Guzman pushed through with his campaign rally despite having no permit. Jimenez said that he cannot speak for what the Comelec will do but mentioned that he will reach out to De Guzman.
"I am going to reach out to Ka Leody and I hope to reach an understanding with him that these guidelines are meant to be followed and that they are intended for the security of the people who are following his campaign," he said.
"I think he understands that. And it's very important to note, of course, that these rules - we're not out to get people disqualified - let's make that clear," he added.
Jimenez stated that the poll body's objective is to secure the people who are joining the said rallies. He said that if the Comelec Campaign Committee (CCC) feels that it is necessary to take stronger action, then it will. For his part, Jimenez said that he is rather inclined to just reach out to De Guzman and have a substantial discussion with him on the importance of the said guidelines
LGU denials
On the other hand, Supporters of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and vice presidential candidate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan were denied a permit to hold a caravan in Davao City, the hometown of vice presidential candidate of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and President Duterte.
Still, they pushed through with the caravan despite the lack of a permit. Jimenez that they have the CCC at various levels and there is an appeal to this committee from denials from local government units (LGUs) and they feel that the Comelec representatives in the committee together with the representatives of other agencies that form part of the CCC should be a good enough guarantee of impartiality
He said that the CCC hopefully operates to balance things out as this is something that it was precisely designed for, to ensure that there's impartiality in the handling of campaign permits.
As for the supporters who went through with the activity, Jimenez said that like with De Guzman, he will have to talk with the candidates first but in the event that these incidents are repeated over and over again, then perhaps sterner action might be required.