Keep religious events politics-free, bets told

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia —Inquirer photo/Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia on Friday called on candidates running in the 2025 midterm polls to keep “politics-free” next month’s observances of the feasts of the Black Nazarene and Santo Niño.

“A holy activity should not be politicized even if the campaign period has not yet started and [the aspirant is officially] not treated yet as a candidate,” he said in a statement via Viber.

“Let us give this time to the faithful so that they can meditate and intensify their devotion. This is just for a few days only, compared to the 90 days and 45 days of campaigning [for national and local candidates],” he added.

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The official campaign period for senatorial and party list candidates starts on Feb. 11. The campaign period for local candidates will start on March 28.

During election years, candidates have been observed often sponsoring activities and posting pre-campaign propaganda materials during religious observances, such as the feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9 and of Santo Niño on the third Sunday of January, as well as secular celebrations such as New Year’s Day and Chinese New Year.

Motions for reconsideration

Meanwhile, the commission en banc spent the last two working days of the year resolving the motions for reconsideration of candidates disqualified for material representation or being a “nuisance.”

Among those denied by the en banc was the motion for reconsideration filed by former Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, who was disqualified for propagating false information intended to disrupt the election.

Also denied was the motion for reconsideration of Workers’ and Peasants’ Party senatorial aspirant Sonny Matula on the disqualification case he filed against televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“We no longer have nuisances cases [involving] local [candidates] that are pending in the divisions and en banc. A first for the commission,” Garcia said.

Decisions of the en banc may be appealed to the Supreme Court by a disqualified candidate, who must obtain a restraining order compelling the Comelec to include their names in the official ballot.