Comelec, DILG ask gov’t agencies, schools to refrain from inviting candidates to events

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have appealed to government agencies, including state-run schools, to refrain from inviting candidates in the 2019 polls as guests of honor in their activities during the campaign period.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez and Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya made the call a day after the Comelec reminded government employees in non-political offices against using government resources to engage in any partisan activity or face a jail time of one to six years and disqualification from public office.

“Government spaces, compounds, fences, should be free from campaign materials. ‘Yung appearance of impropriety, we want to avoid that. Kung private schools [ang mag-imbita ng kandidato], okay. Pero kung government [-run schools], iwasan na lang natin,” Jimenez said.

A Joint Circular issued by the Comelec and the Civil Service Commission back in March 2015 defines partisan political activities as:

• forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees, or other groups of persons for the purpose of soliciting vote and/or undertaking any campaign for or against a candidate/party;
• making speeches, announcements, commentaries, holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate or party for public office;
• publishing, displaying or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate or party; and
• directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges, support for or against any candidate or party.

“Kahit walang clear prohibition [ang batas], iwasan na lang natin magkaroon ng appearance of impropriety,” Jimenez added.

Malaya agreed, saying that civil servants should not give an image that they are engaging in partisan political activities.

“What we should guard very strongly…is the use of government property for a partisan political activity. ‘Yung government vehicles, mga ambulansiya, patrol car, police vehicle na hindi magamit sa campaign for the victory or defeat of a candidate,” Malaya said.

“Magututulungan po kami ng Comelec rito,” Malaya added.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte's most trusted aide and former adviser, senatorial candidate Bong Go spoke before policemen during the PNP's flag raising and awarding ceremony of the Brigadier General Rafael Crame Balangay Awards inside the police headquarters in Quezon City.

Earlier, Duterte ordered the military, police and Cabinet officials not to engage in partisan political activities as the campaign period for the May polls begins.

According to Albayalde, Go, who was guest of speaker during the event, did not urge the audience to vote for him.

The PNP chief also pointed out that the campaign period has not officially started at the time.

"Hindi pa naman start yung campaign period kaya, I think, we have not violated the provision or instruction of the President at nakita naman natin 'yung pagsabi niya hindi naman sya nangampanya," he said. —NB, GMA News