‘DQ for bets violating aid distribution rules’

Comelec chief: Money not theirs; it’s abuse of state Resources

MANILA, Philippines — By showing up or displaying campaign materials in areas where government aid is being distributed, candidates can get disqualified and the social workers or officials who allowed them in may be slapped with administrative charges, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Garcia warned that violation of restrictions in the distribution of various government aid programs during the campaign season is punishable with disqualification.

“That is abuse of state resources. The money is not theirs. That is not from a private fund, yet they will make it appear that they are the reason why there is distribution,” Garcia said.

“That is a disqualification case under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code,” he said, referring to prohibited acts under the law.

The Comelec on Wednesday announced that various social services programs of the government, including the controversial Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program or AKAP of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), have been allowed exemption from the spending ban during the campaign period.

But the poll body specifically mandated that politicians or candidates are strictly prohibited from attending any form of aid distribution.

He said this would include having streamers or posters of the candidates in the payout sites.

“When we say presence during distribution, that means no indication of politics, that it will not be used for politics. That is clear, not just physical presence,” Garcia said. The poll body chief urged the public to report violations.

Implementing bodies, he said, may lose their exemption if they fail to strictly follow the conditions set by the poll body.

Officials and even employees of such agencies may also face administrative cases, he warned.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds is prohibited 45 days before a regular election, unless authorized by the Comelec.

The Comelec granted the request for exemption of the DSWD for 28 of its programs, including AKAP and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation or AICS.

Garcia said he had recommended to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian that they invite local Comelec officials during the distribution. Gatchalian, he said, welcomed his recommendation.

“(It will ensure) that there is good faith during distribution. It’s not that there is no trust (in the DSWD), but that is just to ensure full compliance with the (conditions we set for the) exemption,” he added.

The DSWD is mandated to submit a copy of the implementing guidelines for the exempted programs to the Comelec. The department is also required to submit periodic reports regarding the implementation.

Appeal for restraint

The Comelec is also appealing to those gunning for elective posts in May to refrain from or at least go slow on posting campaign materials ahead of the official campaign season.

While there is no prohibition against premature campaigning, Garcia said politicians or their supporters should practice self-restraint in posting campaign materials ahead of the campaign period.

“For me, even if they’re allowed they should practice restraint because not everyone likes our conduct and behavior,” Garcia said on Wednesday.

“I think, the 90 and 45 day campaign period is long enough. Anyway they can always tap social media to campaign,” he added.

The campaign period for those running for senator and party-list representative begins on Feb. 11 until May 10, covering 90 days, while for those gunning for congressional and local government posts the campaign season begins on March 28 up to May 10.

Garcia expressed disappointment over the proliferation of huge billboards and other campaign materials especially in urban centers, but admitted the Comelec is “powerless” at this time in stopping it.

He noted that under the Election Automation Law, any person who files his Certificate of Candidacy shall only be considered a candidate at the start of the campaign period.

However, Garcia appealed to aspirants to refrain from coming out with propaganda materials.

He stressed that all aspirants are mandated to take down giant billboards three days before the start of the campaign period.

Comelec Resolution No. 11086 provides that all prohibited forms of election propaganda shall be immediately removed, or caused to be removed by candidates or parties concerned at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period.

Failure to comply with the prohibition, Garcia said, shall be ground for disqualification of candidates.

Garcia also said the poll body is addressing the spreading of fake poll-related news, through artificial intelligence.  He said troll farms have been spreading disinformation and misinformation to mislead voters. Garcia said he was also a victim of deepfake. An AI-generated image of himself, he said, announced that a senatorial aspirant had withdrawn his candidacy.

He also revealed having discussions with representatives of Google in the Philippines to have the social media accounts of candidates involved in early campaigning taken down. “Immediate action is very important. It should be in a matter of days or on the same day,” he said.

38 areas of grave concern

Meanwhile, Garcia announced at a press briefing earlier yesterday that 38 cities and towns – mostly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) – have been marked as “areas of grave concern” or under the red category by the poll body.

Garcia made the announcement during the activation of the national election monitoring action center at Camp Crame.

They are among the 403 municipalities and cities categorized under “areas of concern” in the coming elections.

Areas in the red category are those with a history of violent incidents, intense political rivalry and threats posed by rebel groups.

Of the 38 areas under the red category, 32 are in BARMM which cover the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Tawi-Tawi. The 32 BARMM municipalities are Al Barka, Ampatuan, Bacolod Kalawi, Balindong Watu, Bayang, Binidayan, Buadiposo Buntong, Buluan, Butig, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Maguing, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Marantao, Marogong, Paglat, Pandag, Pualas, Rajah Buayan, Saguiran, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, South Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Tubaran, Tugaya, Cotabato City and Marawi City.

The towns of Jones and Maconacon in Isabela in Cagayan Valley, Masbate City and Baleno in Masbate, and the towns of Calinog in Iloilo and Santa Margarita in Samar have also been placed under the red category.

A total of 177 towns are under the orange category or “areas of immediate concern” and 188 under the yellow category or “areas of concern.”

Garcia said he is satisfied with the data as 1,239 municipalities and cities, including those in Metro Manila, are under the green category or those with no security concerns.

“At least I’m happy, and I hope the numbers don’t get bigger,” he said at a press conference.

Garcia clarified the classification is not directed at local government units but is used only as guide for the Comelec, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other deputized agencies to adjust their security measures.

“If you see your area under the red category, it doesn’t mean you have reason to fear or flee to other places,” he said.

But he warned members of partisan armed groups and other lawless elements of tough response from authorities if they are found harassing or threatening teachers involved in poll duties. “We will make your lives difficult,” he said. Police have recorded 12 poll-related incidents in 2024.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, for his part, assured the public that police officers would follow operational procedures for setting up checkpoints. Marbil has also sought AFP help in securing BARMM.

In response, AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military has already beefed up its presence in the region not only as election security measure but also as part of normalization process in the BARMM.

“We’ve laid down grand preparations specifically not only for the election but to make sure BARMM area will be peaceful and orderly come election,” Brawner said.

He added the military is checking the background of candidates for possible red flags, especially their having clandestine foreign connections.

“We will inform the Comelec about this because we don’t want a repeat of what happened in the last elections,” he said, referring to the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo who turned out to be a Chinese national named Go Hua Ping with links to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs. - Mayen jaymalin, Emmanuel Tupas