Campaign rules were made for everyone’s safety –Comelec

Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez on Sunday stressed that Comelec crafted restrictions on in-person campaigning to limit the risk of COVID-19 infections during the Eleksyon 2022 campaign period.

“Sa tamang panahon at sa tamang sirkumstansya, nakakakita tayo ng mga sitwasyon kung saan tama at kinakailangan na medyo pigilan ang mga iba’t ibang activities,” he said during a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(At the right time and in the right circumstances, we see situations when it is right and necessary to restrict certain activities.)

On Friday, presidential and vice-presidential aspirants Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Comelec should reconsider its Resolution 10732.

The resolution prohibited aspirants from performing any act that involved physical contact during the campaign period.

However, Lacson and Sotto argued that the prohibition was “impractical” and “not well-thought-out.”

Sotto added that the Comelec could not impose health regulations. Neither could it prohibit activities like selfies as these were part of the Constitution's Bill of Rights.

“Sa tingin ko mali ‘yung ganong klaseng characterization kasi unang una, ‘yung implikasyon na sinasabi nila, na mali ‘yung paghaharang ng ganyan dahil nga violation ng right to free expression, tandaan natin na hindi lahat ng rights, absolute,” Jimenez said.

(I think that kind of characterization is wrong because, first of all, the implication is that it violated the right to free expression. Let's remember that not all rights are absolute.)

“‘Yung sa pagse-selfie, definitely ang itatanong mo diyan ay mas mahalaga ba ‘yung magpa-picture ka kaysa sa manatiling safe at walang sakit ‘yung mga taong nasa paligid mo?” he added.

(When it comes to taking selfies, is it more important for you to take a picture than for the people around you to stay safe and healthy?)

Jimenez then said those who wanted to report campaign violations could go directly to the Comelec. The poll body would help them report safely, especially when they feared a politician's retribution.

“Kung gusto mag-report, tutulungan namin na panatilihin ang kanilang anonymity, hindi natin ilalabas ang kanilang mga pangalan. Pero at some point, kung kailangan ng mag-file ng complaint, kailangan silang lumantad,” he explained.

(If they want to report, we will help maintain their anonymity. We will not release names. But at some point, if someone needs to file a complaint, they also need to come forward.)

— DVM, GMA News