ELEKSYON 2022

Lawmakers see possible advantage for local incumbents in draft campaign guidelines

Several lawmakers on Wednesday expressed concern over the Commission on Elections’ draft guidelines for the conduct of polls under the new normal set-up, noting that incumbent local officials may have an advantage over their contenders.

During the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (JCOC) hearing, Comelec executive director Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. said they are in the process of finalizing the “New Normal” guidelines and that these may be released in October.

However, three lawmakers questioned some provisions in the draft guidelines, specifically on the rules for local campaigning.

Senator Imee Marcos told Sinocruz that they are “alarmed” that some provisions allow incumbent local authorities to determine which activities are allowed and not allowed.

“Paano kung ang incumbent tatakbo at oposisyon ang kandidato?” she asked.

(What if the incumbent will run and there are candidates from the opposition?)

Sinocruz said they have already taken note of this and asked the lawmakers to consider the fact that the local government units (LGUs) are the ones who have the authority to allow activities within their respective jurisdictions.

But Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga pointed out that it is the Comelec that has the “exclusive jurisdiction” in imposing rules and regulations on all election-related activities.

“Malinaw naman sa batas na the conduct of election shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Comelec and the Comelec can impose or issue a resolution providing what will be the rules,” he said.

(It is clear in the law that the conduct of election shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Comelec and the Comelec can impose or issue a resolution providing what will be the rules.)

“Mahirap ba mag-issue kayo ng guidelines [stating], 'All election officers shall be the one who shall determine the place and the manner of campaigning subject to the following guidelines,'” he asked.

(Is it hard to issue guidelines stating, 'All election officers shall be the one who shall determine the place and the manner of campaigning subject to the following guidelines.')

He underscored the need to “even the playing field” among the majority, the minority, and the opposition.

Barzaga then suggested to the poll body to assign election officers who will set the place, date, and the rules for the local campaign activities for the upcoming polls.

“‘Di naman mahirap yon para lahat kaming kandidato, whether incumbent or not sitting candidates and officials, will be subject to the same rules. ‘Pag kaming incumbent ang [nag-set], e talagang sasabihin namin na 'itong venue na ’to, may naunang naka-occupy n’yan.' And these are the experiences of our local candidates,” he said.

(That is not too hard to do so that all of the candidates, whether incumbent or not sitting candidates and officials, will be subject to the same rules. If the incumbents will set the rules, we will really say that 'these venues are already occupied.' Ang the are the experiences of our local candidates.)

“You have to consider that kung gusto nating maging fair ang elections, it should be fair not only on the day of the elections but fair also during the period of campaigning,” he added.

(You have to consider that if we want to have  a fair elections, it should be fair not only on the day of the elections but fair also during the period of campaigning.)

Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice likewise raised this concern.

“It would be unfair to candidates who are not incumbents. Parang ang sinasabi niyo na ang incumbents are making the rules and at the same time they are the players. So far, ‘yun ang nakikita ko sa new normal guidelines na medyo questionable,” he said.

(It would be unfair to candidates who are not incumbents. It's like you are saying that the incumbents are making the rules and at the same time they are the players. So far, those are the things in the new normal guidelines that are quite questionable.)

“Mas maganda i-submit ang rules na definite na from the Comelec not by local authorities kasi nga kandidato din sila. It’s a national and local elections,” Erice added.

(It is better for Comelec to submit a definite rules and not the one that is determined by the local authorities because they are also candidates. It's a national and local elections.)

Sinocruz said they will consider this in their discussions for the finalization of the guidelines.

The period of filing of COCs will run from October 1 to 8.

The national and local polls will take place on May 9, 2022. — BM, GMA News