A senior official of the Commission on Elections has admitted difficulty in prohibiting supporters of candidates from campaigning on the day after the 90-day campaign period ended on May 7, with the prohibition applicable only to candidates and political parties.
“We admit it’s very difficult to impose that prohibition on supporters because they are entitled to what we call freedom of expression. That is their right,” Commissioner George Garcia said Sunday, eve of the national elections.
He added: “Supporters who continue to promote their preferred candidates cannot be apprehended because illegal campaigning rules starting Sunday are applicable only to candidates and political parties.
“Therefore, if there are 50 million Filipinos posting in favor of their preferred candidates, in the end, these are not covered by the campaign prohibition.”
Garcia, however, said house-to-house visits of supporters was another matter, as it was possible people involved in the activity might be part of the candidates’ and political parties’ campaign teams.
“We can always look into that, and we can always say that this is campaigning.”
The poll body is also monitoring “mass and group texting” as a form of campaigning, which he said was prohibited if candidates were involved.
Distributing sample ballots is prohibited as well because it is considered another form of campaigning, the official said.
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año appealed to the voters to report to proper authorities immediately any vote buying or vote selling activities in their communities.
“If you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Do not hesitate to report so that authorities can act on it as soon as possible,’’ Año said in a radio interview.
Año said that starting May 8 until the actual election day on Monday, it was the duty of the deployed police officers to ensure that no all sorts of election campaign activity, like the distribution of political materials, is being done.
“The police will have no second thoughts of arresting violators. That is why, we are warning you that the campaign period has ended starting today and at the same time those buying votes will be directly arrested,’’ he added.
Año has directed the Philippine National Police to create Anti-Vote Buying Teams in each province and city to receive complaints and investigate allegations of vote-buying and vote-selling in compliance with election laws, rules, and regulations.
“This is a concrete effort of the DILG and PNP to support the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the interagency Task Force Kontra Bigay in ensuring a fraud-free election,” he said.
Año said the Anti-Vote Buying Teams were also tasked to gather and preserve evidence, take statements of witnesses, and protect witnesses or complainants by coordinating with the proper government agencies.
“Evidence-based complaints will be acted upon and will be verified by PNP Anti-Vote Buying Teams and will undergo the same process in gathering evidence. These will be forwarded to the Comelec which has a motu proprio power, or on its own accord, file cases of violation of election laws,” he said.
Complaints that are sufficient in form and substance and supported by evidence can be filed by the concerned group before the proper prosecutor’s office, he added.
Año said the Police Regional Offices would be collating and monitoring the status and progress of complaints filed before them and to all dedicated Anti-Vote Buying Teams under their jurisdiction, including reports of vote-buying or selling, and update on a regular basis to the National Task Force Kontra Bigay.
The PNP Regional Offices will also include in its collated data a report on the methods and schemes of vote-buying and vote-selling.