Campaign period ends today

MANILA, Philippines — The campaign period for the May 9 national and local elections officially ends at midnight today.

“Tomorrow (May 7) is the last day of campaigning,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said yesterday as he warned candidates for various national and local posts nationwide of penalties if they violate campaign regulations and health protocols.

“Candidates and political parties are strictly enjoined to observe minimum health protocols. What’s the use of all the efforts, time and resources if your voters will catch COVID-19?” Garcia said as he addressed the Laging Handa forum.

He said the Comelec Campaign Committee (CCC) will conduct an investigation to identify political parties and candidates who had defied the health protocols and, if proven to have done so, “face the full force of the law.”

Garcia also said that voters should have already chosen who they would vote for on Monday, after having heard the candidates’ platforms during the campaign period.

As the Comelec urged all registered voters to go out and exercise their right to vote, Garcia also asked the electorate to help fight vote-buying, fake news, violence and terrorism after the campaign period.

He urged voters to “put the interest of the country first,” before anything else.

Soldiers told to stay neutral

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reminded soldiers deployed for poll-related duties to stay neutral as they are fielded to help the Comelec ensure safe and peaceful elections.

“I also reiterate my previous guidance to the AFP to remain professional and non-partisan as the Filipino people head to the polls next week,” Lorenzana said.

He issued the reminder yesterday as 45,000 personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are being deployed to cities and municipalities tagged by the Comelec as “areas of concern.”

“Despite differences in opinion and preferences, may we all remember the potential of our vote to elect the right leaders of our democratic country,” he said.

Lorenzana gave assurance that the Department of National Defense (DND) is committed to help ensure an orderly, honest and peaceful conduct of the 2022 national and local elections.

“Our troops shall help prevent illicit and/or illegal activities that may compromise the safety and sanctity of the elections,” he said.

PNP prepares anti-riot teams or its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has laid out contingency measures for the reported plan of certain groups to mobilize huge crowds to enter Metro Manila and disrupt the outcome of the polls.

“There are individuals and groups who may not accept the outcome of the election and resort to violence or huge crowds that will disrupt the smooth flow of traffic,” said Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, who heads the PNP Directorate for Operations. But De Leon expressed confidence that Civil Disturbance Management teams would ably respond in case such event, as indicated in the information received by the PNP, actually happens.

He stressed that any group planning to stage a rally or big public gathering is required to secure permits from the local government unit where it plans to hold such activities. COVID-proofing

Addressing another challenge, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are on red alert status to support the Comelec in terms of COVID-proofing the elections.

A week before the polls, the National Task Force against COVID-19 issued Memorandum No. 6 to direct the OCD, all regional task forces and regional DRRMCs to mobilize and coordinate the medical needs of the Comelec as the nation embarks on an election during a pandemic.

In particular, the OCD, together with its regional offices as the head of the Task Group Resource and Management and Logistics, will facilitate and coordinate the provision of medical supplies and other logistical requirements for COVID-19 operations since voters need to be protected against infection while voters with symptoms must be given the opportunity to cast their ballots.

“Despite these circumstances, we urge our countrymen to keep the bayanihan spirit alive to ensure safe and healthy national and local elections,” said OCD Deputy Administrator for Operations Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV. – Michael Punong- bayan, Emmanuel Tupas, Danessa Rivera