No campaigning during grand parade

CEBU, Philippines - Any act of campaigning is strictly prohibited among the participants of the Sinulog Grand Parade tomorrow.

The grand parade will be participated in by 137 entries for the Grand Showdown, Higante, Puppeteers and Float competitions.

Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros gave reminders during the final briefing yesterday that any act of campaigning including chanting, yelling and giving gestures and signs that may be deemed promoting a candidate will be sanctioned.

Ballesteros said that showing the name or photo of politicians in their props and banners are also prohibited.

The SFI will not prevent a politician from boarding a float on the condition that they will behave according to the SFI rules.

These rules include no distribution of campaign materials, or any promotional material that may create commotion in the crowd.

Ballesteros said SFI reserves its right to disqualify and pull out entries that will violate the rules.

“First we will warn them. But if they continue to violate, I'm afraid we will have to remove them out of the parade,” Ballesteros said.

The Cebu City Government already banned streamers of politicians or aspiring politicians along the carousel route.

Ballesteros urged Cebuanos to watch out for politicians who will not follow the rule.

“They should watch for these people. Will you vote for these people if they cannot even follow a simple rule?” Ballesteros said.

He said the SFI has to make sure the Sinulog Festival will not be tainted with politics.

The parade will start at 9 a.m.  — (FREEMAN)