Candidates warned vs. graduation campaigning

CEBU, Philippines - With March approaching and many school commencement exercises set, the Department of Education warned candidates in the upcoming local and national elections not to use graduation ceremonies as an avenue to speak on their platforms of government.

Commission on Elections-Cebu provincial election supervisor Eddie Aba said the teachers and other government employees are also prohibited from engaging in partisan politics during graduation rites.

If a candidate speaks during graduation rites about their platforms of government the school will not be held liable.

“Pananglitan during graduation ceremony, ang mga maestra manghatag ug mga leaflets or any election propaganda, bawal na.  Pero kung ang kandidato mangampanya during graduation ceremony, dili sad na sala sa maestra or sa principal. It is presume that those who invited these candidates are in good faith,” Aba said.

Aba added it is not unusual for some schools to invite their alumni, who may also happen to be a candidate, to serve as a model or to give an inspirational message among the graduates.

Aba further said that the venue of the graduation rites should have no tarpaulin or campaign materials of any candidate.

Comelec Resolution 9615, promulgated last January 15, provides that parties and candidates may post any lawful campaign material in authorized common poster areas in public places, subject to the requirements and/or limitations set by the Comelec.

DepEd stressed that graduation celebrations and ceremonies should only be for students and their parents. It has set the graduation day for all public schools on March 18 or 19.

The DepEd theme for this year’s ceremonies is “Building the Nation’s Future Leaders Through the K to 12 Basic Education Program.”

Meanwhile, thousands are expected to attend the first-ever Summit on Credible Cebu Elections this coming Saturday at Mariner’s Court.

The event is organized by the Cebu Archdiocese through the Office of the Archbishop in cooperation with Comelec and DepEd.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in his invitation to different groups, said that the summit will endeavor to forge maximum unity in embracing electoral advocacy and in implementing the needed concrete strategies for electoral reforms.

During the summit, there will be workshops on vote-buying, electoral rules violations/irregularities, political dynasties and sectoral agenda.

Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, convenor of the Archdiocesan Discernment Group, said that they have invited several local and national candidates as well as political parties to join the event.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)