The Commission on Elections has agreed to revisit the resolution stating the rules on campaigning for the May 9 national elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comelec Director Elaiza Sabile David confirmed this during a briefing at the House suffrage and electoral reforms committee on Wednesday.
The poll body also said it has halted the removal of election materials in private areas following the order from the Supreme Court.
In a briefing, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said during the en banc meeting of the Commission, “it was agreed that, of course, the Comelec will honor the TRO issued by the SC.”
In Congress, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite asked if there will be changes in campaigning, as the alert level status amid the pandemic has been downgraded.
David said the proposal of newly-appointed Comelec Commissioner George Garcia to review Resolution 10732 during the en banc meeting was approved.
The new guidelines would be aligned with the existing alert level being implemented by the government, she added.
“For now, there are no changes yet, but I would like to share that earlier in the en banc meeting, there was a proposal by the newly-appointed Commissioner George Garcia for a revisit of Resolution 10732 and it was approved,” David said.
“Because of that, you can expect some changes possibly on Resolution 10732 considering that during the time it was promulgated, it’s still stricter and the alert level was higher,” she added.
David also clarified the entire resolution would be reviewed, not just some of its provisions.
Under Section 29 of Comelec Resolution 10732, the poll body may modify the guidelines “as the circumstances may warrant, depending on the rules to be issued by the National Government or the IATF-MEID.”
At present, Alert Level 1 is imposed in Metro Manila and in 38 areas across the country.
Meanwhile, David also reminded candidates to be cautious of their activities during the campaign season, including celebrations of their birthdays.
This as Cavite Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. asked if he could celebrate his birthday in March with his constituents. On that day, the campaign period for local candidates will officially start.
Barzaga is a reelectionist in the May 2022 polls.
“I don’t like to celebrate my birthday on March 25 because a lot of my constituents no longer eat pork amid the Lenten Season. On March 26, if I could celebrate my birthday and if I can treat my constituents? I’m celebrating it every March 25, however, it always falls down in the campaign season,” Barzaga said.
“I’m just clarifying it so I can tell my constituents, ‘I’m sorry I can not celebrate and treat you on my birthday,’” he added.
David maintained this is prohibited, noting the ban is also for the protection of those seeking government posts.
Prior to the House briefing, the SC Public Information Office shared a copy of the TRO it issued, following the petition of supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo to temporarily stop the implementation of parts of Resolution No. 10730. News5 reported that Comelec has received the order before 2 p.m.
SC spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka earlier said the TRO will be deemed effective “upon actual receipt of the order by the person or persons being restrained,” following the Rules of Court.
Jimenez said: “We will continue with our ‘baklas’ operations in public spaces as it is required by law. However, as far as ‘baklas’ in private places, that is held in abeyance in deference to the court.”
The TRO was issued against a part of the resolution connected to the Comelec’s “order to dismantle, remove, destroy deface, and/or confiscate all election materials that are privately owned and private funded solely by volunteers and private citizens and posted and/or installed within their private properties.”
Specifically, the TRO was issued to enjoin the poll body from implementing Section 21 (o), Section 24 and Section 27 of the Comelec Resolution No. 10730.
The SC also gave the Comelec a non-extendible period of 10 days to file its comment on the petition.