Campaign period starts for barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines — The nine-day campaign period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections begins today.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez called on barangay and SK candidates to observe “clean and green” campaigns.

Not only should candidates comply with regulations, Jimenez also encouraged them to use recyclable campaign materials.

Jimenez reminded candidates that using metal wires or steel nails to affix posters on trees and other plant life is prohibited.

Candidates and their supporters, Jimenez said, should properly dispose of empty water bottles, styrofoam food packs and plastic bags during the campaign.

Comelec has allowed candidates to use social media for campaigning. 

But any expenditures incurred in relation to the use of social media for campaigning, such as sponsored Facebook posts and production costs for campaign videos, must be reported to the Comelec, Jimenez said.

He stressed the need for all candidates in the coming May14 polls to abide by the campaign rules.

“Everybody knows that campaigns should be fairly run, and that campaign rules are designed precisely to ensure that fairness by eliminating the potential for some candidates to take unfair advantage of their resources or unique circumstances,” he said.

Under the rules, a candidate could only spend P5 per registered voter in the barangay where he or she is running.

Campaign overspending may result in the candidate’s disqualification from holding office, Jimenez said.

He added printed campaign materials must also conform to the maximum sizes prescribed by the Comelec, such as posters must not be larger than 2 x 3 feet.

Spelling out the name of a candidate with a series of posters, each measuring 2 x 3 feet, will not be allowed. There will be designated common poster areas.

“Propaganda materials outside of the common poster areas are prohibited,” Jimenez stressed.

Putting up posters on private property is allowed, as long as the owner has given consent.

The statement “political advertisement paid for,” followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate whose benefit the election propaganda was printed or aired, should be included in the poster.

Campaign materials must also bear the words “political advertisement paid by,” followed by the true and correct name and address of the payer.

Jimenez expressed hope that all candidates will abide by the rules.

Candidates for the barangay and youth polls have until May 12 to campaign.

Violations

A total of 752 people were arrested for various violations in 16 days as the Comelec imposed the election period for the barangay and SK elections on May 14.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said most of those arrested were civilians, with 12 government employees, 13 security guards, six policemen, three military personnel and other members of the law enforcement agency.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said the PNP continues to coordinate with the Comelec to ensure peaceful and orderly barangay and SK elections.

“The PNP has extensive preparations for the barangay and SK elections.

Despite the inclusion of some barangays in the election watchlist of areas, we assure the public that the forthcoming elections will be safe and orderly,” he said.

Bulalacao also assured teachers and other personnel on poll duties of their security.

From April 14 to 27, the PNP said a total of nine persons were killed in 12 incidents believed to be triggered by intense political rivalry in different parts of the country in connection with the elections on May 14.

Bulalacao said the PNP has asked the Comelec to place Masbate under its supervision and control due to intense political rivalry and presence of armed groups.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola said they have requested Comelec to intervene in the situation in Masbate.

The PNP was also tasked to go after barangay officials who are in the drug list released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Bulalacao said the PDEA drug watchlist had been validated, revalidated and counter validated by the police and military, as well as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

He said the list will be the basis of filing charges against the erring barangay officials.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed administrative complaints against ten barangay chiefs in Masbate over their alleged failure to organize their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs).

DILG assistant secretary Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri said the complaint involves supposed administrative offense of misconduct and dereliction of duty under Section 60 of the Local Government Code.

Echiverri said these barangay officials must be held accountable for their continued defiance to organize a BADAC in their respective areas, despite repeated directives by the DILG and the Dangerous Drugs Board.

A former police official, however, said the release of the narco list by PDEA would do little in terms of influencing the vote of the electorate.

If the intention of the release of the narco list to the public ahead of the May 14 elections is to provide the electorate with information they could find useful in choosing their local leaders, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the people would still base their decisions on personal experiences within their communities.

The former PNP chief argued the residents know best when it comes to what is happening in their communities, including whether their barangay leaders are involved in illegal drugs.

“So even if they are included in the list and this is released to the public, if the view of the people in the barangay is that the list was used for political purposes, they would still elect these people because they believe they know the candidates better,” he said.

Lacson said most voters would believe the PDEA list is inaccurate.

“So I don’t think on that count, the release of the list of the names of individuals allegedly involved in illegal drugs was right,” he said.

Lacson has questioned the release of the narco list, which he said is merely an intelligence report that should only be for the internal consumption of law enforcement agencies. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy, Janvic Mateo, Evelyn Macairan, Elizabeth Marcelo, Raymund Catindig