Padaca calls for strict implementation of election laws

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for the strict implementation of election laws and encouraged voters to utilize social media in exposing irregularities during the campaign.

Comelec  Commissioner  Grace Padaca cited the strict implementation of common poster areas so that campaign materials will not be posted on trees.

Padaca said election officials should also monitor if candidates will follow the prescribed sizes of campaign posters. Candidates from political clans usually dominate common poster areas, she said.

Padaca said voters should document election irregularities and use social networking sites to expose them.

“We have cases in the Comelec seeking to disqualify certain candidates for violations of the law in the past election, but it is not backed by evidence,” she said.

“You don’t have to wait for the court’s decision to have them punished. Even in the middle of the campaign expose them, so that they will be sanctioned. It can be one of the issues against the candidate,” she said.