DILG to officials: Don’t use gov’t beneficiary programs in election campaign

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has advised against local officials using government beneficiary programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for their advantage in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

“‘Wag po nating gamitin ang mga ganitong benepisyo ng gobyerno kasi ang vote-selling at vote-buying it’s just not monetary, but false promise rin po ito na ”pag manalo po ako ganito ibibigay ko sa inyo.’ It’s a form of bribery and a form of vote-buying and vote-selling na rin,” DILG Assistant Director Izza Laurio said.

(Do not use government benefits because vote-selling and vote-buying are not just monetary, these are false promises that “if I win, this is what I will give to you.” It’s a form of bribery, vote-buying, and vote-selling.)

Laurio made the statement in a news forum with the media on Saturday in response to a question about what the DILG had to say to local government officials who might use the programs to gain an advantage in the elections.

The DILG official also warned local candidates that they could be penalized if they were caught violating election rules.

“Iwasan po natin ito dahil kapag napatunayan na may mga ganitong acts ang ating mga kandidato may nararapat na kaparusahan para sa mga kandidato na nagvivolate ng election rules,” she added.

(Let’s avoid these because if proven, there are respective penalties for candidates who violate election rules)

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