Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos urged candidates to observe campaign guidelines, particularly the Metro Manila Development Authority’s directive prohibiting caravans in major thoroughfares on weekdays.
He said scheduling arrangement would be convenient for the motorists and commuters rushing to and from their destinations in the metropolis on weekdays.
“I hope that the candidates and their supporters will understand that they should not be the cause of delay for the general public,” Carlos said in a statement Saturday night.
Carlos, however, agreed with the MMDA’s policy that campaign caravans should only be allowed on weekends and holidays in Metro Manila.
“This will be practical since lesser volume of vehicles are out on the streets,” he said.
He added the PNP would assist in whatever possible way to ensure the smooth flow of traffic for the benefit of the people.
“May we also remind them to get the necessary permit from the LGU (local government unit) concerned whenever they want to conduct a motorcade or caravan,” he said.
The 86-day campaign period for candidates seeking national elective positions started on February 8, with proclamation rallies by the different political parties in different areas of the country.
There are 10 candidates running for president while nine bets are vying for the vice presidential seat.
There are 64 senatorial aspirants who will be vying for 12 senatorial seats while there are 178 party-list candidates.
The campaign period for local candidates — which includes members of the House of Representatives, and elective provincial, city, and municipal officials — will officially kick off on March 25.
The MMDA, meanwhile, gace assurances Sunday of strict and fair enforcement of its policies for all candidates planning to hold motorcades along major roads in the capital region, where 13 million of the 110 million plus country’s population live.
MMDA officer-in-charge Romando Artes, responsing to questions, said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo: “That policy is applicable to everyone. Rest assured we are not taking anyone’s side on this.”
He said while the former MMDA chairman was now the campaign manager of one candidate – he was referring to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – that factor would not come in while implementing the agency’s policy.
Artes said the MMDA Metrobase, not its traffic enforces, would flag the violations. This would be done through “no-contact apprehension” to avoid heavy traffic buildup during motorcades.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government warned health protocols violators during campaign period — candidates and supporters alike — they would surely face charges for any offense.
In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said coordination efforts were being done among political parties and candidates to remind their supporters to observe COVID-19 health protocols during political campaign gatherings.
He said: “There are two possible violations. First is against the Omnibus Election Code wherein a candidate who violated (a guideline) may face one to six years of imprisonment and perpetual disqualification.
“For supporters, we can apply the RA 11332, and ordinances of their respective local government units.”
Due to the pandemic, aspirants are prohibited from shaking the hands of voters, or doing any act that involves physical contact during the campaign period.
Año then urged the aspirants to follow the Commission on Elections Resolution 10732 imposing restrictions on in-person campaigning.
He said that if they see any violations of such a policy in certain areas, they will directly report it to the concerned officials to investigate the matter and see if cases need to be filed against them.