Eleksyon 2022 preps ‘all set, ongoing’ despite change in leadership –Comelec

Despite the change in leadership after the retirement of former Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas, it was business as usual at the Comelec as the poll body prepared for the 2022 national and local elections.

Comelec Director III of the Education and Information Department, Atty. Ellaiza Sabile-David made the assurance during the Laging Handa briefing Monday.

“Lahat naman po kasado na. Ang preparations natin tuloy-tuloy naman, ongoing pa rin ang printing ng ating mga ballots… So far, wala po kaming nakiktang magiging aberya sa preparations,” she said.

(Everything is all set. Our preparations are ongoing, including the printing of ballots... So far, there are no problems with our preparations.)

“’Yung committees natin na naghahandle ng iba’t ibang tasks in connection with the preparations for the conduct of election, tuloy-tuloy naman po ‘yan kahit magkakaron change ng administration,” she added, referring to the retirement of Abas and former Comelec Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho Jr.

(Our committees handling the different election preparation tasks are still meeting their responsibilities despite the change of administration.)

The three poll commissioners retired last February 2 or three months before the May 9 elections.

Commissioner Socorro Inting, the most senior commissioner, currently sits as the acting Comelec chairman

Recently, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said there would be committee reassignments after the exit of the three commissioners.

The Committee on Overseas Voting formerly chaired by Guanzon would be among the committees reassigned.

David also assured the public that local Comelec officials were prepared for the start of campaign activities across the country.

“Lahat naman po ng mga guidelines na kailangan malaman ng ating mga field officials na sila po ang mag-iimplement ng mga guidelines na ito on campaign, ay nai-cascade na po namin sa kanila ‘yon para rin po ma-brief nila ang mga kandidato sa kani-kanilang mga lugar,” she said.

(So they could brief the candidates in their respective localities, all the guidelines had been cascaded to our field officials.)

The campaign period for candidates running for national posts starts on February 9, 2022. The campaign period for local candidates starts a month later on March 9, 2022.

David reiterated that there were campaign restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the limitations on physical contact like kissing, hugging, handshakes, selfies, crowding, among others.

Candidates are not allowed to go inside people’s residences even if the homeowner consents, she added.

Distribution of food, drinks, or “anything of value” were likewise prohibited. — DVM, GMA News