MANILA, Philippines — The red and green lights illuminating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters will be changed following the outcry caused by the lights with colors associated with a tandem running in the upcoming elections.
“The Comelec is a tenant in that building, which is under the management of Office of the President. I have been told that the building’s administration is planning to swap out these ones for differently colored lights,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez over Twitter when asked to explain the choice of red and green colors in the Comelec building.
Presidential candidate and former senator Bongbong Marcos uses red as his political color, while his running mate Davao mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio uses green.
In a separate Twitter post, Jimenez admitted that the building’s administrators should have had due diligence: “They should be more mindful. When this was pointed out to them, they immediately moved to rectify.”
So @COMELEC @radyocomelec @jabjimenez Can u explain the choice of red and green colors on a public building, please? Is this where your office is? pic.twitter.com/sYaLzaELuH
— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) February 18, 2022
The Civil Service Commission said it prohibited utilizing government resources for political purposes.
Previous reports showed that mascots in the likeness of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio have allegedly appeared in a vaccination event.
READ: After mascots of Marcos Jr., Sara appear in vax event, Comelec says that’s prohibited
Another campaign event of the Marcos-Duterte tandem also had personnel wearing Department of Health (DOH) uniforms. Following the incident, the DOH said their t-shirts and other items with the agency’s logo are “apolitical” and should not be associated with partisan politics.
READ: DOH warns: Don’t use items with our logo in endorsing candidates