THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday called on all candidates in the May 12 polls not to steal the limelight from graduating students.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said:
“Don’t take advantage of you being a guest speaker during graduation to campaign. During your speech, make it about the graduates, not you.
“Their graduation is about them and their parents, and not about you. Let us respect the graduation ceremonies,” he added.
The poll chief said even the presence of tarpaulins and posters bearing the candidates’ names and faces is unacceptable.
He said this is because schools are not considered common poster areas.
“Those tarpaulins with ‘Congratulations graduates’ will be tantamount to campaigning and, therefore, illegally posted campaign materials,” he said.
“Schools are not places for campaign posters. Hopefully, they get reported to us,” added Garcia.
During the graduation season, politicians and public officials are among the usual guest speakers. It is also a common sight for candidates to post tarpaulins and posters greeting the graduates in the vicinity of schools.
