DSWD seeks exemption of AKAP from election ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is seeking an exemption of the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) from the ban that will be implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during this year’s midterm election period.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said he is opposed to any delay in the implementation of AKAP and other programs of the agency that are badly needed by poor Filipinos.

Gatchalian added that deferment of DSWD programs is also unacceptable if the reason is the fear that the program would be used by politicians.

The election ban is in accordance with Batas Pambansa 881, or the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds within 45 days before Election Day.

This is intended to prevent candidates or political parties from using government projects in influencing the outcome of the elections.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said they applied for the exemption from the election ban last Dec. 19, but there is “no action from the Comelec yet.”

Dumlao said their request covered not only AKAP, but also other social welfare programs and services, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations or AICS and Walang Gutom Program.

Photos and video footage show politicians including senators, congressmen and local government officials at AKAP and AICS distribution events.

As of yesterday, the Comelec has yet to grant an election ban exemption for the DSWD’s AKAP, according to Comelec Chairman George Garcia.

But if an exemption is granted, Garcia said the Comelec would require the DSWD to bar politicians from the AKAP distribution during the election period.

He added that the poll body would stop the delivery of necessary social services despite the ban exemption during the election period.

Garcia stressed the need for the DSWD to clearly disclose who the beneficiaries are and the amount of assistance to be distributed.

“In the end, politicians are not needed in the distribution,” Garcia said at a recent press conference.

Only employees of government agencies should be distributing the assistance to beneficiaries, he said.

Get gun ban exemption

Meanwhile, the Comelec yesterday reminded qualified people to secure gun ban exemption to avoid imprisonment and other penalties.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco emphasized that the poll body and its deputized law enforcement agencies would strictly enforce the gun ban starting Jan. 12.

Laudiangco said even those with licensed firearms and with a permit to carry a gun outside the residence, but without a certificate of authority from the Comelec, could be considered to be violating the law.

Under the Omnibus Election Code and Republic Act 7166, carrying of firearms during the election period is considered an election offense.

Gun ban violators face one to six years of imprisonment, removal of right to vote and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

“So if you are qualified, apply before the effectivity of the gun ban because we repeat: the practice of carrying a gun outside of residence even if you have a license, a permit to carry outside of residence, but do not have a certificate of authority from the Comelec, you are the one violating the law,” Laudiangco said during the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing yesterday.

Since last year, the Comelec had posted on its website rules and other information concerning the gun ban.

Laudiangco noted that the Comelec is setting up checkpoints as part of the efforts to strictly enforce the gun ban.

“We will be strict about that because our goal, apart from conducting a fair election, is the safety of our countrymen, especially candidates and voters,” he said.

At the same public briefing, Laudiangco assured the public that all defective ballots shall be destroyed and all the 73 million ballots to be printed shall undergo verification.

Those with smudges, miscuts and other excess ballots shall be destroyed in front of representatives of the Commission on Audit, political parties and stakeholders before Election Day.

“It will be livestreamed to show that there are no extra ballots, no extra but counted ballots, only one ballot per registered voter,” he said. — Mayen Jaymalin