Comelec spokesman James Jimenez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday reminded candidates for the May polls to abstain from campaigning during Holy Week, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said it would also be wise for candidates to respect the traditional activities during Holy Week, like the Stations of the Cross and the pabasa, and refrain from campaigning among the throngs of devotees attending these rituals.
“Of course, during these days there are people praying, doing Stations of the Cross… We hope they (candidates) will show some delicadeza (propriety),” Jimenez said in an interview.
“We want to remind them that it is forbidden to campaign on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday,” he added.
“Once we receive a report or we find out ourselves [they had been campaigning], we will act on it accordingly,” he said.
Jimenez said the Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act specifically bans campaigning on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Doing so would be an election offense, he said, meriting imprisonment of one to six years, disqualification from public office and loss of the right to vote.