Duque opposes easing some health rules for in-person campaigns

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday expressed opposition to the calls to ease some health protocols of the Commission on Elections for in-person campaigning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Duque made the statement when asked if  he agrees with the appeal of political parties to allow shaking hands, taking selfies, and cheek kissing in campaign rallies.

“Basta mag-mask kayo. Tapos hanggang, sa kung kakayanin. Huwag naman yung masyadong dikit-dikit parang sardinas. Masama naman yung ganun,” he said.

[Just wear a mask. If possible, do not stay too close to each other.]

Duque encouraged the public to consider their safety, saying they have to learn to live with the pandemic.

Earlier, some camps of candidates called on the Comelec to adjust the restrictions on in-person campaigning.

On Wednesday, the poll body said it is open to reviewing the guidelines.

“Our rules regarding [the campaign] are based on the [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease] guidelines,” Acting Comelec Chairman Socorro Inting said.

“Now, yes, we are aware of the complaints of some [candidates]. Maybe, we can review our rules because when we adopted our rules the alert level status was Alert Level 3,” she added.

Social distancing

Meanwhile, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday urged candidates and their supporters to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections during the campaign period.

Galvez, who is also the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer, suggested designating marshals to ensure health protocols are observed.

“Ang akin lang pong pinapaalalahanan ang ating mamamayan na as much as possible sa mga crowded areas katulad ng pagkampanya dapat maging self aware tayo dapat nandoon pa rin talaga yung pag-aalaga sa ating sarili,” Galvez said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(I am reminding our people that as much as possible in crowded areas such as the campaign, we must be aware, we must still really take care of ourselves.)

“Kung pwede talaga nakikiusap sa ating mamamayan, sa ating tumatakbong pulitiko na kailangan talaga mag-designate po tayo ng marshals, at mag-ano po tayo ng tinatawag na markers para at least maiwasan po natin talaga yung magkaroon tayo ng hindi magandang patutunguhan katulad ng tinatawag natin baka magkaroon tayo ng resurgence,” he added.

(I appealed to the political candidates to designate marshals, and to put markers so that at least we can really avoid having resurgence of COVID-19 infections.)

Asked if the public can raise concerns to the NTF for any possible violations of health protocols during campaign period, Galvez said “Opo, tsaka sa local government units (LGUs) po natin (Yes, and also to our LGUs).”

He also encouraged the public to get COVID-19 jabs in order to get protection against the viral disease during the campaign period.

“Tayo ay magpabakuna na at least kung just in case maviolate man yung tinatawag nating social distancing kung bakunado na po tayo at least protektado na tayo,” he added.

(Let us get vaccinated and just in case social distancing is violated, we are already vaccinated and protected against the viral disease.)—LBG, GMA News