No selfies, handshakes? Lacson, Sotto want ‘practical, realistic’ Comelec rules

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson, incumbent senator and former national police chief. Photo from Lacson’s office

MANILA, Philippines — The Lacson-Sotto tandem on Thursday questioned some of the campaign rules set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying the poll body should be “realistic” and “practical.”

While the tandem said it respects the rules set by the Comelec, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson stressed the need for these guidelines to be implementable and enforceable.

“Of course we will follow the science. Kung talagang ang science kailangan bawal ang selfie, bawal yung kamay-kamay o bawal yung pakikipagsalamuha, we respect that. But they should also be practical, realistic. Hindi yung kung ano maisip, gagawin,” Lacson said during a “Meet the Press” forum.

(Of course we will follow the science. If we really need to bar selfies, handshakes or physical contact based on science, we respect that. But they should also be practical, realistic and not just make rules on a whim.)

“Wala nang pwedeng gumalaw e. Bawal mamigay ng maski t-shirt o maski ano, ma-implement ba ‘yon? Kasi kung gagawa sila ng resolution, maga-adopt sila ng resolution, dapat i-implement talaga nila para sumunod lahat,” he added.

(People will be restricted. T-shirts can’t be distributed, can that be implemented? Because if they adopt a resolution containing the guidelines, they should be able to implement it so all candidates will follow.)

“Pagka impractical na, at hindi na kayang i-implement, i-sanction na lang yung ibang grupo, i-sanction din nila kami tignan natin kung anong mangyayari. Baka walang matirang kandidato,” he also said.

(If it’s impractical, and they can’t implement it, sanction groups, sanction us, let’s see what will happen. There may no longer be a candidate left.)

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is vying for the vice presidency, meanwhile asked as to how the Comelec plans to penalize offenders.

“Ano ang penalty? Bawal selfie. Nilapitan ako…nakipag-selfie sa ‘kin. Ano ang penalty? Sino ipe-penalize, yung nagse-selfie o ako? Tama yung sinabi ni Sen. Lacson, [dapat] practical, kung mae-enforce mo,” Sotto said.

(What is the penalty? Selfies are prohibited. What if I was approached for a selfie? Who will be penalized? The one who wants a selfie or me? Sen. Lacson is right in saying that they should be practical, the rules should be enforceable.)

“Ano ang penalty? Disqualification? Pero yung mabigat ang kaso, hindi di-disqualify a, pero yung nag-selfie, idi-disqualify?” he also quipped.

(What’s the penalty? Disqualification? But the one with a more serious case was not even disqualified. Will they disqualify someone over a mere selfie?)

Recently, Comelec acting chief Socorro Inting said the poll body may review its face-to-face campaign rules due to complaints from several candidates.

Earlier, the Comelec, under Resolution No. 10732, barred handshakes, selfies and kisses during in-person campaigns, among others.

/MUF