The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned all political aspirants against the use of goons and private armies during the May 2022 elections.

In a briefing on Thursday, April 7, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the police and the military have joined forces to thwart any violent election related incidents.

“We have to keep our guards up in ensuring the safety of every voter, candidate and election officer in the face of the election related violence especially with political rivalries resorting to harassment and intimidation,’’ Año emphasized.

He noted that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are focused mainly on known areas of ‘election concerns or hotspots’ as the campaign period heats up.

The DILG chief insisted that concerned authorities should strictly be on guard against any form or semblance of vote buying while constantly reminding the political bets that public resources and funds are prohibited from being used for election campaign purposes.

Año also stressed that handing out ayuda (cash aid) is not allowed during the campaign period citing that the incumbent officials may use this for their unlawful advantage over their political rivals.

However, Año clarified that programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other Commission on Election (Comelec) approved projects are exempted from this rule.

He also reminded the barangay officials that they are ‘non-partisans’, adding that “they should do away from any sort of campaigning and must exercise fairness in granting campaign permits in their areas and should not use their power and influence to woo and admonish voters.’’

“At habang nahaharap pa tayo sa banta ng (Covid-19) pandemya patuloy na sisiguruhin na susunod sa minimum public health standards at ang mga alintuntunin ng Alert Level 1 at 2 sa pangangampanya at pag iikot ng mga kandidato lalong lalo na sa malawakang pagtitipon (And while we still face the pandemic threat, we will ensure that the minimum public health standards and the Alert Level 1 and 2 guidelines in campaigning and other similar sorties of the candidates especially in huge gatherings are followed),’’ he added.

Año also encouraged the public to exert effort in helping the government in running after fake news peddlers.

As far as the journalists are concerned, Año disclosed that ‘media security focal persons’ will be on hand to ensure the safety of the members of the media while joining them to make the election exercise as clean as possible.

“I thus encourage all stakeholders and private citizens alike to partake in this peaceful process by reporting any violation to concerned authorities. Ultimately make informed decisions and always remember that each shade in the ballot will dictate where we are headed in the next few years,’’ he said.

“Be assured that department (DILG) will do everything it in its power to help Filipinos safely and freely speak their choices to guarantee that their opinions are respected and assure that their preferences and decisions of our countrymen will soon translate into a potent vehicle that will drive us forward to our much sought place of safety, peace and progress,’’ the DILG chief pointed out. (Chito A. Chavez)