Handshakes not considered campaigning — Brillantes

Candidates in the May 13 midterm elections can attend the traditional Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday — when campaigning is prohibited under the law — and even shake hands with the devotees. There's nothing wrong with that. But once they ask the devotees to vote for them, or hand out campaign materials, then they risk jail time as this constitutes campaigning that is prohibited under the law not only on Maundy Thursday but also on Good Friday. “Hindi naman campaigning 'yun kinakamayan ka," Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters Wednesday. "'Yung campaigning [ibig sabihin] nagsasalita ka na iboto nyo ako o namimigay ka ng leaflets, pamphlets, naglalagay ka ng tarpaulin sa tabi ng Simbahan. 'Yun ang campaigning." “Bakit naman natin ipagbabawal 'yung bisita sa simbahan e' yun naman talaga ang ginagawa pag Maundy Thursday at Good Friday. Wag naman nating ipagbawal 'yun, magagalit ang simbahan pag pinagbawal natin,” Brillantes also said when asked if candidates are allowed to join Visita Iglesia. Visita Iglesia is a Holy Week tradition where Catholic devotees visit at least seven churches to meditate on the Passion of the Christ. No campaigning Brillantes, meanwhile, reminded candidates that under the law, campaigning is banned on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.   “Pag may nakita tayo [na nagkakampanya], 'yun ang pwede ipakulong agad dahil direct violation 'yun of the law,” Brillantes told reporters. “Pag may nagkakampanya po, pakisumbong sa amin at 'yun naman ay pwede mapakulong kaagad, grounds for criminal election offense.”   Section 5 of Republic Act 7166 states that the campaign period may exclude the day before Election Day, the day of the election itself, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. It also states that violation of this rule constitutes an election offense punishable under Sections 263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code. Section 264 of the Code states that any person found guilty of any election offense shall be punished with one to six years' imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right to vote. Comelec Resolution 9385, which lists the calendar of activities for the campaign period for the May 13 midterm elections, also prohibits campaigning on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The start of the campaign period for local candidates falls on March 29, Good Friday, which means political activities can only start on March 30, Black Saturday. Illegal posters Brillantes said election supervisors and officers especially in the provinces will issue warnings to local candidates who have illegally placed and oversized campaign materials. “Ang instruction naming, ibibigay ngayon sa en banc, is pagdating ng March 30, pagdating ng April 1 padala na ng notices. Mag-umpisa na 'yung three-day notice para pag hindi sila nagtanggal after three days, mag-uumpisa na rin kaming magdemanda ng local and this will be throughout the country,” he said. Brillantes further said there are already candidates who will be charged regarding their illegal campaign posters. He, however, refused to give names. “Meron na kaming mga kakasuhan pa. Hindi ko sasabihin baka maunahan. Marami-rami pa, sunod-sunod na yan. Hindi kami titigil.  Marami kaming binabantayang local candidates na nagdikit nang nagdikit before the start of the campaign period,” he said, adding most of these violators were from Metro Manila. — KBK, GMA News