No campaigning on Holy Week – Comelec warns local candidates

By March 25, 2013Headlines, News

THE start of the official campaign period for local candidates is March 29, but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office issued a reminder that it is against the law to campaign on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday of the Holy Week.

Lawyer Marino Salas, provincial election supervisor, said Comelec Resolution 9615 prohibits direct or indirect campaigning on these two days, along with the eve of election day on May 12 and on election day itself, May 13.

He warned candidates for provincial, city and municipal positions that a violation of this rule could be a ground for disqualification.

Salas defined direct campaigning as soliciting votes for a candidate or soliciting not to vote against a certain candidate while indirect campaigning includes posting streamers, posters and giving out flyers and leaflets soliciting votes for a candidate.

Meanwhile, the Comelec’s “Oplan Baklas”, usually implemented on the first day of campaign period, will start after Easter Sunday.

“Oplan Baklas” involves the removal of campaign paraphernalia that are wrong in size and placed in areas not designated by the Comelec.

Salas said his office will notify erring candidates first and give them the chance to clean up their own mess.

“But after we notify them and still did not act on it, we will remove their streamers and posters at their expense,” Salas said.

The Comelec conducts “Oplan Baklas” with the Department of Education, Philippine National Police, and the Department of Interior and Local Government as its deputies. –Dada Martin Austria

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