FOR the next 90 days, candidates for president, vice president, senators, and party-list groups are expected to court millions of voters under a “new normal” setting amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The campaign period for the May 9 elections for national positions starts today but for those running for local positions, campaign starts on March 25.
Commission on Elections Commissioner Rey Bulay, also head of the National Comelec Campaign Committee (NCCC), said guidelines set by the poll body for campaigning will be fully implemented.
“We wish to assure the public that the duly constituted campaign committees nationwide stand ready to implement the guidelines institutionalizing the new normal in the conduct of in-person campaigns, rallies, caucuses, `miting de avance,’ motorcades, and caravans for the 2022 national and local elections,” Bulay said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said policemen and barangay officials will be deployed to monitor compliance with the Comelec guidelines.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, it is prohibited during the campaign period for candidates to give donations or gift in cash or in kind.
There will be no campaigning on April 14 (Maundy Thursday) and April 15 (Good Friday).
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10732, the NCCC is authorized to classify the category level of each region, province, city, and municipality, in conformity with the alert level classification issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Under the Category Level 1, the Comelec will allow up to 70 percent of the operational capacity of a venue, whether indoor or outdoor; up to 50 percent for Level 2, whether indoor or outdoor; up to 50 percent of the operational capacity of the venue for enclosed outdoor only for Level 3; and up to 30 percent of the operational capacity of the venue for enclosed outdoor only for Level 4.
As for Category Level 5, no election campaign activity will be allowed.
The guidelines also state some of traditional campaign activities will no longer be allowed like entering any private dwelling during house-to-house campaigning, even with the express permission of the homeowner; and crowding or allowing crowds that violate health protocols around the candidate and his or her companions.
Also banned are handshakes, hugs, kisses; going arm-in-arm, or any action that involves physical contact among the candidates, their companions, and the public; and taking selfies, photographs, and other similar activities that require close proximity among the candidates, their companions, and the public.
The Comelec also prohibited the distribution of food and drink, and all other goods or items.
The poll body also stressed that minimum public health standards must be strictly observed, such as adequate air ventilation, physical distancing, and use of face masks, during campaign activities.
Not allowed to join, participate, or take part in campaign activities are persons younger than 18 years or over 65 years; those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks; and heavily pregnant women.
The Comelec also set guidelines in conducting campaign activities via mass media, including online and social media platforms.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10730, live streaming on the candidates’ social media platforms shall be considered a form of e-rally.
During such online activities, the poll body said candidates may receive in-platform gifts and game currency, but shall not be allowed to give gifts to livestream audiences, as well as run promotions and campaigns that will award in-platform gifts or game currency to platform users and livestream audiences.
The resolution also states that all e-rallies and livestreams must include a disclosure that identifies it as a political meeting or rally, confirms compliance with minimum health protocols, and must provide the date, time, and location information.
The Comelec also said that recordings of such e-rallies must be submitted to the Comelec’s Education and Information Department within 72 hours from its airing.
Aside from those produced by the candidates and political parties, the Comelec is also set to provide a platform for free livestreaming of e-rallies of national candidates.
The Commission said there shall be three presidential and three vice presidential 10-minute slots, 5 senatorial 3-minute slots; and 10 party-list 3-minute slots per night and will run until the end of the campaign period.
During each livestream, the Comelec said the candidate will be allowed to see live comments to his livestream.
“The candidate may or may not respond to live comments,” said the Comelec.
As for online propaganda materials, the Comelec is requiring each registered political party/coalition and candidate to register with the Comelec the website name and web address of all their verified official accounts, websites, blogs and/or other social media platforms.
It said this is because only verified accounts, websites, blogs, and/or social media pages may run electoral ads, and boost or promote electoral posts.
On the other hand, a website, blog, or social media page not registered with the Comelec but, when taken as a whole, has for its primary purpose the endorsement of a candidate, shall be considered additional official websites, blogs or social media pages of the said candidate.
All official online platforms of candidates are also warned against propagating fake news.
“Information contained in online campaign propaganda shall be truthful and not misleading, nor shall it tend to unjustifiably cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process,” said the Comelec.
TRADITIONAL PROPAGANDA
As for the traditional forms of mass media, the Comelec said there will still be a limit in the duration of air time that a candidate or party must have.
For national candidates, it said, the airtime must not be more than a total of 120 minutes of TV advertising per station, and 180 minutes of radio advertising, per station.
In cases where two or more candidates are featured in the broadcast election propaganda or advertisements, the Comelec said the length of time during which they appear or are being mentioned will be counted against the airtime limits allotted for the said candidates or parties.
For newspaper and other published propaganda materials, the Comelec said there will also be specific limits for every candidate: the maximum will be one-fourth page for broadsheets, and one-half page for tabloids.
It said print advertisements cannot be published more than three times a week per newspaper, magazine, or other publication during the campaign period.
In case two or more candidates, political parties, or party-list organizations are featured, the size and frequency limitations provided shall apply to each candidate, political party, or party-list organization appearing, mentioned, or promoted.
As for traditional campaign materials, the poll body said that it is prohibited to put campaign materials outside common poster areas.
It shall also be unlawful to place propaganda materials in public places, such as government-owned buildings and vehicles, waiting sheds, sidewalks, schools, and health centers.
Violations of the established campaign rules shall constitute an election offense, which carries the penalties of 1 to 6 years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from holding public office.
Año said Comelec may relax the guidelines if the vaccination rate in the country further improves.
“We want to attain full vaccination of our countrymen. If everyone is fully-vaccinated during the election period, I think Comelec will relax (the guidelines),” said Año.
Año said 59.1 million individuals are fully-vaccinated and 66.5 million received the first dose of two-dose COVID-19 vaccines. This means some 34 million are yet to be vaccinated out of the 100 million eligible population aged five years and older.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the PNP is awaiting “final guidance” from the Comelec as to the implementation of the guidelines.
“The final guidance will come today,” he said.
He said police units have been given specific tasks, based on the Comelec resolution. — With Victor Reyes
