‘Follow campaign rules, don’t put your candidacy at risk’ – Comelec

file photo.
/INQUIRER.net

CEBU CITY, Philippines – “You’ve come this far and we hope no one will violate any rules and laws.”

This was the reminder lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, director of Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec-7), addressed to the thousands of candidates of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections who will formally begin campaigning on Thursday, October 19.

“Hopefully, they will continue to follow the laws, rules and regulations because we don’t want nga kana inyong kandidatura irisgo tungod lang anang poster. Di mana maoy mupadaog ninyo,” added Castillano.

READ MORE: Barangay and SK elections: Reminders for the campaign period

Before the 10-day campaigning period for the barangay and youth polls kicked off on Thursday midnight, the Comelec has already laid down a set of guidelines for candidates to follow.

These included having a standardized dimensions for promotional posters, in which the maximum size should not exceed 2 x 3 feet.

Posters should also bear the “political advertisement paid for/by” or “printed free of charge” phrase otherwise they will be considered illegal.

Aside from vote-buying, giveaways and handouts are prohibited, too.

Comelec has banned the handout of food and drinks during and after a campaign sortie or meeting, as well as usual giveaways like shirts, ballers, bags, sun visors, hats or caps, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, ballpens, fans, candies and other “items of value.”

Here in Cebu, over 43,000 candidates will be running for various positions in the Barangay and SK. More than 3.3 million voters are expected to cast their ballots this October 30. with reports from INQUIRER.net

/bmjo

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