Candidates told to skip graduation rites out of delicadeza

Cebu Election Supervisor Jerome Brillantes

CEBU CITY, Philippines – There is no law that prohibits candidates in the May 13 election from attending and delivering their messages in commencement exercises.

But Lawyer Jerome Brillantes, Cebu provincial election supervisor, said that they are discouraged from doing so out of delicadeza and to prevent any delays in the graduation ceremonies.

“Actually we have no basis, no basis in prohibiting politicians or DepEd from inviting guest speakers who are (also) candidates (in the election),” Brillantes said.

He said that skipping graduation rites is also in respect of Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 48 series of 2018 signed by Sec. Leonor Briones which it reminds education officials, teaching and non-teaching personnel, to avoid direct or indirect involvement in electioneering or partisan campaigning.

“Any of the abovementioned prohibited act/s committed by DepEd official/personnel shall be dealt with in accordance with DepEd Order No. 49, series of 2006 or the Revised Rules of Procedure of the Department of Education in Administrative Cases, the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and the Omnibus Election Code,” the order reads. /dcb