Gatherings, handshaking may continue

 CEBU, Philippines - Those who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) can still continue to hold political gatherings like “pulong-pulong” and handshaking activities without fear of violating the laws against early campaigning.

Cebu City Election Officer Marchel Sarno said the Supreme Court clarified that even before the start of the official campaign period, those who already filed their certificates of candidacy can still initiate any activities to boost their candidacy.

The election laws provide that the official campaign period for local candidates starts 45 days before the holding of the elections. The next year’s election is scheduled on May 13, 2013.

The High Court ruled in the case of Penera vs. Comelec that “Even after the filing of the COC but before the start of the campaign period, a person is not yet officially considered a candidate but he or she “merely signifies her intention to run for an elective position.”

In Cebu City, both the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) headed by Cebu City South District Rep.Tomas R. Osmeña and Team Rama under Mayor Michael Rama already started holding nightly gatherings for months now.

Rama yesteday said he will confer with their lawyers about the matter and if it is allowed by law, the Team Rama would continue to visit the different barangays of the city to explain to them why they want to be elected into office.

But the mayor said he himself is not in favor that the candidates would engage in early campaigning because it will disrupt the jobs of the incumbent officials.

“Pero wala ta’y mahimo kay kon dili ta mohimo og pulong-pulong ug handshaking malupig ta sa atong mga kontra nga dugay na kaayo nga naghimo niini,” said Rama. (There’s nothing else we can do because if we won’t hold gatherings, our opponent will have the upperhand.)

Some of the candidates under the two leading political groups in Cebu City admitted that going to nightly pulong-pulong and early morning handshaking with the voters is not good particularly for candidates who are already old.

Before he backed out from his intention to run as congressman of the Cebu City south district because of health reason, former congressman Antonio Cuenco said “kon magpadayon ni, nahadlok ko nga dunay mangamatay.” (If this goes on, I feel that someone might die.)  (FREEMAN)