No campaign extension in typhoon areas

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines  – Candidates in areas where barangay elections have been postponed due to the devastation brought by last Monday’s typhoon are not allowed to campaign anymore.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo told the candidates that the allowed campaign period is not extendable even in areas where the Commission on Elections (Comelec) postponed the polls as a result of typhoon “Juan.”

“The elections in those areas (have been) postponed, but this doesn’t mean that the candidates will be given (more time) to campaign,” said Robredo, who was here Thursday for a briefing on the extent of damage wrought by the typhoon.

The poll body delayed the holding of elections in Maconacon, Divilacan and Palanan towns here after their classrooms being utilized for polling precincts were severely damaged by the typhoon.

Elections in these areas will be held sometime in November.

“At most, maybe the candidates in those areas will only be allowed to campaign again 10 days before the re-scheduled date of elections, that is if the law allows,” Robredo said.

These towns, lying along Isabela’s Pacific coast, were among the hardest hit by the typhoon, leaving at least 1,500 families displaced and thousands of hectares of rice farms inundated.

Officials also noted the difficulty of transporting election paraphernalia in time for Monday’s election due to damaged roads connecting the barangays in said towns.

Three more towns, Natonin and Paracelis in Mt. Province and Tineg, Abra, were also reportedly postponed because of the typhoon.