Sen. Manny Pacquiao distributes assistance upon visiting Batangas. (FILE) Contributed photo
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow officials to aid victims of natural disasters in the country.
He issued the remark as some Filipinos are affected by recent natural disasters like the recent eruption of the Taal volcano and the lashing of tropical depression Agaton in some parts of the country.
Pacquiao said he would ask the Comelec for permission for him to give aid to the victims of these disasters, asking the poll body to be fair in allowing officials who only want to help even though it is a campaign period.
He said the Comelec should allow all candidates to send help, not only those who are incumbent officials.
“Kung payagan tayo ng Comelec na tumulong tayo ay tutulong tayo na hindi magkakaroon ng conflict doon sa kandidatura natin,” he said in a press briefing in Pagadian City.
(If Comelec would allow us to help, we will send help in a way that won’t conflict with our candidacy.)
“‘Magkaroon tayo ng mga favoritism. Payagan din ang isang kandidato na wala sa posisyon kung papayagan nila ‘yung nasa posisyon na gamitin yung pondo,” he added.
(There would be favoritism in that system. Comelec should allow candidates that are not incumbents if they will allow incumbents to send help.)
Aside from asking Comelec to give him permission to send aid, Pacquiao said he will also ask his friends to have the initiative to give help to those in need.
“Kakausapin ko ‘yung mga kaibigan ko na may kaya na mag-initiative sila na para tumulong sila. ‘Yun ang gagawin ko para hindi naman kawawa ‘yung mga kababayan natin na naghihirap,” he said.
(I will ask my friends to initiate giving help.)
Agaton has so far left 25 people dead with another eight missing.
A report from the Office of Civil Defense said that Agaton displaced 15,120 families or 66,485 people in Eastern Visayas region with Eastern Samar province recording 14,809 families (65,970 people), Leyte, 251 (1,274); and Southern Leyte, 60 (241).
The Comelec earlier granted the request of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to continue its pandemic-related programs during the campaign period.
Vice President Leni Robredo is one of the contenders for the presidency in the May 9 polls.