DILG exec files complaints vs 52 barangay officials engaged in partisan politics

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed complaints before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against 52 barangay officials who were engaged in partisan political activities.

In an interview on Friday, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said they filed complaints against 52 barangay chairmen and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials who are actively campaigning for candidates in the midterm polls in May

“Ito ay transmittal of complaints galing sa ating mga kababayan na laban mga barangay captain to [Sangguniang Kabataan] officials na nakikisali nang lantaran sa kampanya starting last March 29,” Densing said.

(This is the transmittal of complaints from residents against these barangay captains and SK officials who have been actively campaigning for the midterm polls since March 29.)

“Fifty-two lang ito (There were only 52) from all over the Philippines. May Misamis Oriental, may Cavite, may Taguig, Cavite, Bulacan, Quezon City [and] Caloocan,” Densing added.

Densing said only the President, Vice President, and other elected officials are allowed to engage in partisan politics (except barangay officials) as per the joint memorandum from Comelec and Civil Service Commission.

“May joint memorandum ang Comelec, Civil Service Commission na 001-2016 na dine-define na tinatawag na political offices at pino-prohibit ang mga civil servants na magkampanya during elections,” Densing said.

(There is a joint memorandum from the Comelec and the Civil Service Commission that defines political offices and prohibits civil servants to campaign during elections.)

“Ang nakalagay dun, ang allowed lang na magkampanya presidente, bise presidente ng pilipinas at (It was stated there that those who are allowed to campaign are the president, the vice president and) other elected officials except barangay officials and of course the confidential staff of these officials,” he added.

The DILG official said they received 700 reports of barangay officials allegedly engaged in partisan politics but will file only 52 initial complaints for now.

Densing noted that they are validating the reports with the help of lawyers from DILG’s Bantay Korapsyon.

“Hindi ko alam kung aabutin ang (I am not sure if we can come up with) 700 but we will file cases as many as we can,” he said.

Densing, however, did not identify the officials facing the complaints. /ee