Kontra Daya calls out CHED chair for alleged campaigning, De Vera says accusations must be specific

An election watchdog group on Sunday accused Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero De Vera III of allegedly endorsing a vice presidential candidate and five senatorial candidates in a virtual forum held Thursday.

De Vera however told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday that the accusations were not specific and said he would not comment on general issues.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Kontra Daya convenor Professor Danilo Arao said the endorsement was made as part of the sixth episode of CHED’s PILI-PinaSkolar Halalan series of voter’s education forums aired via Facebook Live.

Arao said the forum was broadcast on the official Facebook page of CHED, stressing that the action of De Vera was a “misuse and abuse” of government resources during the campaign period.

“Nanawagan kami sa Comelec (Commission on Elections) na imbestigahan si Chairperson Prospero De Vera dahil sa kanyang ginawa,” he said.

(We call on the Comelec (Commission on Elections) to investigate Chairperson Prospero De Vera for what he did.)

“Kasi ito ay malinaw na paggamit ng kanyang posisyon para isulong ang kandidatura ng ilang kandidato,” he added.

(Because he clearly used his position to promote the candidacy of some candidates.)

According to Kontra Daya, De Vera endorsed Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as well as Gringo Honasan, Gilbert Teodoro, Manny Piñol, Loren Legarda, and Herbert Bautista.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, it is illegal for government officials or other individuals to use media owned by the government for “any election campaign or for any partisan political activity”.

As of Sunday, May 8, the video has been taken down from the commission’s Facebook page.

Arao, however, pointed out that if the video was a voter education program the dissemination of information should be continuous.

“Kung ito ay voter education program, hindi ba dapat tuloy-tuloy ‘yung pag-disseminate ng impormasyon? Hindi naman porket tapos na ang panahon ng kampanya, lahat ng mga tao i-delete na ang kanilang mga posts pertaining to a certain endorsement,” he said.

(If it's a voter education program, shouldn't the dissemination of information be continuous? It's not like the campaign period is over, and all people have to delete their posts pertaining to a certain endorsement.)

“Sana ‘yung Comelec ay nakikinig at sana maibestigahan na ito. Kahit na-delete na ang video, other people can provide the saved copy," Arao added.

(I hope the Comelec listens, and I hope this can be investigated. Even if the video has been deleted, other people can provide the saved copy.) —KG, GMA News