AMID COVID-19 THREAT

No more kissing babies, shaking hands during campaign period for Eleksyon 2022 —Comelec

Amid the continuing threat of COVID-19, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said any action showing public display of affection (PDA) will not be allowed during the campaign period for the 2022 elections.

At a House Committee on People's Participation forum on the 2022 elections, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez noted that PDA is a part of the campaign system in the country. This includes candidates shaking the hands of the voters while campaigning and even kissing infants in communities.

However, at this point where there is a health crisis, these practices will be prohibited, Jimenez said.

"Public displays of affection used to be part of the whole idea of campaigning, as they say. Politicians go out to shake hands and kiss babies. You're not gonna be able to do that anymore 'cause that will certainly be very risky behavior," he said.

"That qualifies as a public display of affection and that will have to be strictly regulated," he added.

Jimenez said mass gatherings cannot be banned outright in this coming election season but they need to be restricted. Food distributions will also be prohibited.

"They will be smaller, they will be strictly controlled and in-rally behaviors would be different," he said.

"We will not be allowing food to be served at the mass gatherings anymore," he added.

Jimenez said there would also be a close coordination with the barangay health system as the situation now is unique compared to the previous elections.  —KBK, GMA News