Watchdogs seek return of ban vs early birds

Election watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) want the Supreme Court to junk its ruling on premature campaigning which the groups said was giving those with huge campaign chests undue advantage in elections.

Though it’s still barely a year before the next elections in May, PPCRV and Namfrel said they observed that government officials believed to be eyeing Senate seats were already making themselves highly visible to introduce themselves to voters.

Trusted aide

Among these officials, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, President Rodrigo Duterte’s most trusted aide, appeared to be the one making the most effort for 2019 as he already has several Facebook pages and tarpaulins set up in apparent support of his Senate bid.

He also has been repeatedly called a senator in different public occasions by no less than the President.

Early rounds

Another politician who appeared to be making the early rounds for the midterms was Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, who has frequented events recently from Ifugao to Tarlac to Sarangani.

In Pulse Asia’s March survey of probable winners in the Senate race, Marcos, who is the eldest daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was within the ninth to 15th range, while Go was well outside the Magic 12 winning circle at the 28th to 38th range.