Government-owned bus assigned to Brgy. Labangon was seen being used to transport people during the launching of BO-PK candidates. (CDN PHOTO/NESTLE)
THE prohibition on the use of government vehicles for political activities was top of the agenda during the quarterly assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Cebu City.
ABC President Philip Zafra said the amount of media exposure on the misuse of government vehicles should already serve as a lesson to barangay officials.
“Next time, they have to be very careful and circumspect on the use of vehicles in order to avoid implications . . . This is a learning process for us,” he told reporters at the sidelights of the ABC’s first quarterly assembly yesterday.
For his part, Zafra, who is also the barangay captain of Tisa, said he accompanied supporters in a parade from their barangay hall to Plaza Independencia for the Team Rama rally without using government vehicles.
Provincial Board member Celestino Martinez III, president of the ABC in the province, also emphasized that village chiefs are supposed to be non-partisan, especially during elections.
“I understand that captains have preferences when it comes to mayors, governors and especially presidents,” he said, the reason why they have to be constantly reminded not to use red-plated vehicles during campaign activities.
Gov. Hilario Davide III, meanwhile, said he is absolutely against the use of government vehicles and resources and categorically stated that although he is an incumbent official, he is not taking advantage of government resources for his reelection campaign.
Davide said he had already requested barangay officials not to use government vehicles during the campaign trail.
“They know that already, even the candidates in the cities and towns. They know the dos and don’ts of the campaign,” Davide told reporters yesterday.
Campaign Trail
Meanwhile, Davide expressed gratitude for the warm reception he and his teammates from the Liberal Party (LP) received from the towns and cities they visited during their campaign sorties.
He said the LP team will soon be visiting the Camotes group of Islands and the municipalities in Bantayan.
Davide also said they will frequent towns and cities where there is intense local rivalry, like in Dumanjug, Malabuyoc and Toledo City.
“We feel that we need them and they need us also. We will not stop until we achieve our ultimate goal, which is victory for all our candidates.
One Cebu, led by Winston Garcia, has also been actively campaigning in Toledo City, Cordova, Consolacion, Mandaue City and Borbon.