No campaigning on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday: Comelec

 

 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday reminded candidates in the May 9 national and local polls as well as their supporters that campaigning is prohibited on April 14 (Maundy Thursday) and April 15 (Good Friday).

In an interview, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia urged aspirants and their supporters to take a two-day break from campaigning. He also asked them to reflect and observe the solemnity of the occasion.

“The Holy Week is a time of reflection, a moment of high spirituality. Other than being prohibited, campaigning will leave a bad taste in our electorate,” the poll body official said.

“Let’s pause for a while and in solemnity, cherish that which unites us and forget that which divides,” Garcia added.

At the same time, the Comelec official warned them of the consequences if they go out on the said days to campaign.

“What awaits them, more importantly, is disqualification and imprisonment,” he said.

Comelec Resolution No. 10695 prohibits the campaigning during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Campaign activities will resume on Saturday (April 16).

Meanwhile, Garcia denied the supposed conflict between members of the seven-man panel of the poll body.

"There is no such thing. It's more imagined than real," he said.

"No such rift, I assure you that, not even misunderstanding," the poll body commissioner added.

The alleged rift started after the resignation of Commissioner Socorro Inting as head of the gun ban committee.

But, he said the senior poll body official remains as the chair of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC), as the Commission en banc has not acted on her resignation during the meeting on Wednesday.

Inting resigned as head of the gun ban committee amid the approval of the seven-man panel, with a vote of 4-3, of a new resolution after conducting amendments on two resolutions.

"On account of the promulgation on 6 April 2022 of Comelec Resolution No. 10777, which amended Comelec Resolution Nos. 10728 and 10757, the CBFSC has essentially been rendered functus officio," Inting said in her Memorandum.

"I cannot in good conscience continue to remain as CBFSC Chairperson when this same position has already been made inutile due to the enactment of Comelec Resolution No. 10777," she added.

In the new resolution, automatic gun ban exemptions were granted to top government officials.

Those who approved the resolution are Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, Commissioners Garcia, Rey Bulay, and Aimee Neri.

On the other hand, Inting, Commissioners Marlon Casquejo, and Aimee Ferolino dissented.