ONE party-list group and three local candidates running in the May 12 polls will be investigated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for reportedly violating the ban on campaign activities on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Elections chairman George Garcia did not name the party-list group and the candidates but said they allegedly campaigned using their online platforms.
“Last Thursday and Friday, we have monitored some campaign activities. We will immediately look into these and coordinate with our local Comelec offices,” Garcia said in a phone interview.
“They used their (social media) platforms extensively. The question now is whether that constitutes a violation of the Holy Week campaign prohibition or not,” he said.
He said that if found to have violated the prohibition, the candidates may be charged with violation of election laws.
Republic Act No. 7166 prohibits any kind of campaign activities during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Meanwhile, Pasig city mayor Vico Sotto and his team took a break from campaigning during the Holy Week to rest and reflect.
On a Facebook post during the weekend, Sotto said he and is team took a much-needed rest during the two-day break on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
“During this quiet and peaceful times, it also gives me a chance to have serious reflection and thought of my life,” Sotto, who is seeking his third and last term, said in Filipino.
“In order not to get lost, we need to remind ourselves why we are doing all of this. For us in politics, whether we are being bashed or not, people will see and feel whether we’re sincere thru our words and actions,” he also said.
Sotto and his team resumed their campaign activities on Easter Sunday.
Garcia said the Comelec will start deploying the 68,542,564 official ballots to be used by the different cities and municipalities starting on Tuesday as the verification of the printed ballots is already 95 percent complete.
He said the ballots for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Batanes will be deployed first.
“The ballots will be directly deployed to the city or municipal treasurers’ offices,” he said, adding that they are targetting to complete the deployment of ballots by the end of the month.
“All ballots must be deployed before we begin the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS),” Garcia said.
Data provided by the Comelec showed that the FTS is set to be held from May 2 to 10.
Under the Poll Automation Law, there must be a final testing of the voting machines to be used in each polling precinct, followed by their closing and sealing by the Electoral Boards.
The voting machines will only be opened on Election Day. – With Christian Oineza
