BY IME SORNITO and RUBY SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – The local election campaign period commences today.
Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however, candidates must continue to observe the minimum public health standards such as wearing of facemask and observing physical distancing.
“Reminder lang na nandito pa si COVID. Dapat we should act responsibly during the campaign,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Western Visayas director, Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado.
He expressed concern over crowd control.
Elective posts at stake are for congressman, provincial governor, vice governor, provincial board member, city and municipal mayor, and city and municipal councilor.
“Always think about the health protocol,” said Commissioner George Erwin Garcia in a press briefing at the Comelec central office in Metro Manila.
The 45-day campaign period for local candidates will run until May 7.
Health experts have warned of an uptick in cases due to increased mobility and relaxing of quarantine protocols during the election campaign season.
For its part, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said it is ready to enforce a stricter security package.
Its unit commanders across the region were given instruction to operationalize their respective security plans.
“It is our objective that the elections are secure, safe, peaceful, and orderly. We have prepared early. We will keep on tracking the results and progress of our plans. In case, there is a need for modification and adjustment, we are ready to do so,” said Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, Western Visayas police director.
The PRO-6, he added, is working closely with Comelec “and will coordinate and collaborate with other government agencies.”
The PRO-6 earlier identified 44 election hotspots in the region.
Meanwhile, Balisado again reiterated the campaign guidelines in Comelec Resolution No. 10732 which took into consideration the ongoing pandemic.
For in-person campaign
* Category Level 1 area (Alert Level 1) – no limit
* Category Level 2 area (Alert Level 2) – a candidate or campaign leader may be accompanied by a maximum of five campaign support staff
* Category Level 3 area (Alert Level 3) – a candidate or campaign leader may be accompanied by a maximum of three campaign support staff
* Category 4 and 5 areas (Alert Level 4 and 5) – not allowed
The following activities are strictly prohibited during in-person campaigns in all category levels:
* Entering any private dwelling during house-to-house campaigning, even with the express permission of the homeowner;
* Crowding, or allowing there to be, crowds that violate minimum public health standards around the candidate and his or her companions;
* Handshakes, hugs, kisses, going arm-in-arm, or any that involves physical contact among the candidates, their companions, and the public;
* Taking selfies, photographs and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions, and the public;
* Distribution of food and drink, and all other goods or items;
For caucuses, meetings, convention, rallies, and miting de avance
* Category/Level 1 – allowed up to 70 percent of the operational capacity of the venue, whether indoor or outdoor;
* Category/Level 2 – allowed up to 50 percent of the operational capacity of the venue, whether indoor or outdoor;
* Category/Level 3 – allowed up to 50 percent of the operational capacity of the venue for enclosed outdoor only;
* Category/Level 4 – allowed up to 30 percent of the operational capacity of the venue for enclosed outdoor only;
* Category Level 5 – not allowed;
The following activities are strictly prohibited during such gatherings:
* Handshakes, hugs, going arm-in-arm, or any action that involves physical contact among the candidates, their companions and the public;
* Taking selfies, photographs and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions, and the public;
* Distribution of food and drinking, and all other goods or items
Comelec, Balisado also said, will start going after illegal posters – those that are not in designated poster areas and not conforming to prescribed sizes.
“Ang mga posters na sobrang kalakihan eh talagang tatanggalin natin,” said Balisado.
But Comelec won’t be touching campaign materials displayed in private properties, Balisado clarified, citing the Temporary Restraining Order that the Supreme Court (SC) issued./PN