Don’t campaign during Holy Week, barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan poll bets urged

MANILA, Philippines — The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) yesterday asked candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections next month not to campaign during the Holy Week.

In an interview, PPCRV chairman Rene Sarmiento appealed to candidates to respect the solemnity of the occasion.

Since there is no prohibition under the law, Sarmiento, a former election commissioner, said candidates could not be held liable for premature campaigning since they have yet to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 14 polls.

The law only covers them once they become official candidates.

“We cannot prevent them because of the Peñera vs Comelec ruling that is still there. There is no more electioneering,” he lamented.

In the Supreme Court ruling, premature campaigning is no longer an election offense as Republic Act No. 9369 provides that a person who files his or her COC shall be considered a candidate only at the beginning of the campaign period.

With this, Sarmiento said they could only discourage voters from supporting candidates who refuse to respect solemn occasions like the Holy Week.

“The warning is there. Be very careful, our voters. Watch out for candidates giving all these water, etc.,” Sarmiento said.

Just like in previous elections, some candidates have placed public greetings and expressions of solidarity bearing their faces and/or names near churches and chapels during Holy Week.

There are also those who go to the extent of providing devotees and penitents with free food and drinks.

Per schedule of the Commission on Elections, the filing of COCs for the barangay and SK polls is set from April 14 to 20, while the campaign period runs from May 4 to 12. 

Tight security

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed at least 44,000 policemen to secure the public during Holy Week break and summer vacation.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said yesterday 32,637 police personnel are manning 4,546 police assistance centers along major thoroughfares, travel routes as well as ports, airports and land transportation terminals across the country.

In Metro Manila, Dela Rosa said 11,871 policemen were deployed to secure vital installations, convergence points and commercial centers during the Lenten season.

“There have been no validated reports of terrorist threats in Metro Manila while security forces and the intelligence network are continuously monitoring and doing their jobs,” he said in a statement. – Edu Punay