Marcos asks Comelec to allow donations during election period

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos asked yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow families under granular lockdowns to continue receiving relief packs from local government units (LGUs) during the election period.

Marcos called on the Comelec to issue an exemption order to its Resolution No. 10695, which set the calendar of activities for the May 9, 2022 presidential elections, particularly the prohibition on giving donations or gifts, in cash or in kind, from the start of the campaign period for national positions to election day.

“I think the pandemic would not be over by that time so there would still be places that would be put on granular lockdown,” Marcos said in a statement.

“I’m thinking of the welfare of the people who may be affected (by the resolution) during the campaign period rather than the candidates like me. What happens to the families in places under granular lockdown?” he added.

Under the Comelec resolution, giving donations or gifts, in cash or in kind, is prohibited from Feb. 8 to May 9, 2022.

Marcos pointed out that unless the Comelec issues an exemption order, residents of areas under granular lockdown, who are barred from leaving their homes, may not be able to get assistance, in the form of relief goods, from LGUs.

He said the local chief executives’ hands would be tied and families who cannot receive aid would be affected.