Illegal campaigning during Good Friday
Rowena Veliganio shows the T-shirt she got from Binay and Honasan supporters last Good Friday. (CDN PHOTO/MICHELLE JOY L. PADAYHAG)
Despite calls from Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and the Commission on Elections to spare the Holy Week from campaign activities, supporters still distributed campaign T-shirts and put up posters in Hilantagaan island, Santa Fe, on Good Friday.
Comelec banned campaigning on Good Friday, March 25, including the distribution and posting of campaign materials. The poll body, however, cannot act on mere reports of illegal campaigning without any formal complaint.
“All we can do is wait,” said Comelec Cebu election supervisor Eliseo Labaria.
At around 11 a.m. on Good Friday, Rowena Veliganio went to the shoreline of Barangay Hilantagaan to look for her husband.
While there, she noticed a group of people on the sandbar of the island, around ten meters away from her, giving away white shirts.
Veliganio recalled to Cebu Daily News how she excitedly ran towards the sandbar, hoping she would also get a T-shirt.
“I ran and thought that it was not a politically-related shirt. To my surprise, it bore the name of Vice President Jejomar Binay,” she told CDN.
As she accepted the white T-shirt handed to her, Veliganio said she was then asked, “Who will you vote for? Who will you vote for? Binay.”
Veliganio responded with a smile. She wore the shirt for almost half an hour. She then showed the white shirt to CDN, and it was printed with “President B1NAY 2016” in bold letters.
She said it was the first time a national candidate campaigned in the barangay.
Barangay Captain Roger Segovia said he received reports that two motorized bancas docked at the sandbar on Good Friday, carrying Binay supporters. The incumbent barangay captain is under Liberal Party.
CDN spotted two motorized bancas travelling to Hilantagaan loaded with Binay’s posters, on Good Friday.
Segovia said three persons came to his house wearing Binay campaign T-shirts and asked if they could go for a swim.
“There were no mention of giving shirts and posting of posters in the island,” he said.
Labaria said distribution of campaign materials on Good Friday is an election offense.
“A complaint is necessary as well as witnesses. Someone should be able to testify that someone distributed campaign materials on that day. It would be best if there are pictures,” he added.
A candidate found guilty of an election offense could face a prison term and disqualification from running for public office.
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