Local candidates tone down campaign on Day One

MANILA, Philippines — The sorties during yesterday’s start of the campaign period for local candidates appeared toned down, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.    

In an interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said it seemed that local candidates and their supporters did not embark on full-blast campaigning. 

“The feedback that we got is good in the sense that we have not received any complaint about congested streets or early morning campaigning activities,” he noted. 

But Jimenez expects campaign activities to peak in the coming days, especially this weekend.

“Let’s face it, they have been campaigning since they filed their (certificates of) candidacy so we did not really expect a big difference between now and then,” he added.

While yesterday was devoid of a festive atmosphere, Jimenez said there was “noticeable difference” in social media.

The Comelec observed an increase in the volume of posts by candidates on Facebook, he said.

Supporters

Jimenez called on candidates to “exercise strict control over their supporters so that they won’t be too rowdy.”

“As everyone knows, local elections are a little more volatile, more hard-fought than national level contests because of the proximity of the contending parties,” he said. 

Jimenez added that it could be easier for people to lose control so “the campaign can get more unruly.”

“It will have an impact on the elections if not directly on the candidates, then certainly on the prevailing mood and atmosphere of fear that such incidents can cause,” he maintained.

Ballots

Jimenez reported that as of March 28, a total of 49,569,097 official ballots have been printed at the National Printing Office.  

The number represents 77.89 percent of the 63,662,481 ballots to be printed for the coming polls. 

The Comelec will start shipping the ballots assigned to far-flung areas by the second week of April, while the last to be delivered are the ballots for Metro Manila.  

Corruption a factor

One in four voters in the midterm polls wants a senatorial candidate “who will not be corrupt,” a survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) released yesterday showed.

According to consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines, Filipinos still believe in the importance of “accountability and trustworthiness in public office,” citing the SWS survey commissioned by Stratbase ADR Institute.

“For Filipino consumers, honesty is a non-negotiable requirement for public service,” the group said in a statement. 

Conducted from Dec. 16 to 19 last year, the survey used face-to-face interviews nationwide among 1,440 adults (18 years old and above), with 360 each in Metro Manila, balance Luzon (areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila), the Visayas and Mindanao. It also used a structured questionnaire with visuals. 

The survey showed that 25 percent of the respondents want to have a senator who is not corrupt.  

The other qualities in candidates sought by respondents are “concern for the poor” with 22 percent; “good personal characteristics” with 21 percent; “trustworthy” with 21 percent; “concerned about or helpful to those in need” with 20 percent; “walk his talk/fulfills his promises” with 14 percent and “can give solutions to the problems of the country” with nine percent.

Respondents also look for candidates who are “approachable” with seven percent; have “good leadership qualities” with six percent; “know how to listen and confer with other people” with five percent; have “faith in God” with five percent; have “political will” with three percent; and are “educated/intelligent/bright” with three percent.

“We at CitizenWatch Philippines echo the same public sentiment as we stand for accountability and trustworthiness in public office. No less than the Constitution highlights this importance,” the group noted.