Team PNoy is part of branding, coalition tells Comelec

CANDABA, Philippines—Team PNoy dared the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday to issue an injunction against the coalition if it indeed violated any law for using its name in posters.

“I challenge the Comelec if you think using Team PNoy is prohibited, then issue an injunction against us and we’ll see,” Senator Franklin Drilon, the group’s campaign manager, said in a press conference here.

“Because that’s totally unfounded. This is part of our branding, Team PNoy.  So why should we be prohibited from using that?” he said. “This is a coalition of political parties. Team PNoy did not seek accreditation as a dominant majority party because we are not a political party.”

“I think, it’s totally without basis if you’re statement is true,” Drilon said, responding to a reporter’s question.

The Comelec reportedly ordered  the Team PNoy to remove its posters bearing the name of the coalition.

“If that is true, okay we will follow because they’re the ones implementing election laws. But I challenge them, if that’s true, issue a prohibition against us,” Drilon said.

Instead of focusing on the administration team, the senator called on the Comelec to also look at possible violations of election laws of the “Team Patay” and “Team Buhay” posters in Bacolod City.

The posters grouped the candidates who openly backed or voted for the passage of the Reproductive Health law under “Team Patay” while those who were against it were grouped under “Team Buhay.”

“I’d suggest that they look at the streamers in Bacolod, the violation of the Comelec rules in Bacolod  on the posters of ‘Team Patay’ and ‘Team Buhay’ rather than Team PNoy…,” Drilon added.