Comelec mulls ban on face-to-face campaigns during 2022 elections

The Commission on Elections was considering a ban on face-to-face campaigning during the 2022 elections as the country was still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Tuesday.

"As far as the Comelec is concerned the pandemic won't be over for quite a while in all practical terms," Jimenez told ANC, as he speculated that not enough people would be inoculated next year despite the availability of vaccines.

He added that the Comelec was making its preparations based on the pandemic still being "in full force and effect."

"Activities like giving out of materials or going out and talking to people face-to-face for campaign purposes, that's gonna change, door-to-door campaigns might be prohibited," Jimenez said.

However, the Comelec spokesperson was uncertain if such a prohibition would be declared as the Comelec would still have to coordinate with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

"Again, we are particularly concerned about face-to-face encounters between campaigners and the public because that's where your spread is going to happen. And it won't matter how COVID-safe the actual election day is, if campaign pa lang people are already spreading the virus through careless and irresponsible acts."

Jimenez said the Comelec was also eyeing new rules and regulations for online election campaigns.

"With the pressure of the pandemic on, the regulation will have to evolve. It will no longer probably be limited to simply monitoring campaign expenses, we might actually actively promote online campaigning by making new rules available or making new prohibitions apply," he said. — Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News