Comelec reminds local bets of election rules

The Commission on Elections warned candidates to follow election rules as the campaign period for local elective positions began Saturday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the election body received complaints about the tarpaulins of candidates, particularly those from the Visayas and southern Mindanao.

“Many are complaining about tarpaulins and we are getting notifications from all over the country. There are many from the Visayas and there is also from the South, Davao I think,” Jimenez said Saturday.

He said the Comelec was still evaluating reports that some tarpaulins were posted in front of churches.

The official campaign period for local candidates was supposed to start on April 29 but since that was Good Friday, the start of the campaign season was moved to Saturday.

“We are now establishing the procedure so that all the reports that we get here in the central office would be referred to the local (Comelec offices) for immediate action,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec main office was still compiling the reports sent through e-mail and Twitter and would provide feedback to the complainants once local Comelec offices take action.

Jimenez also said that the Comelec did not receive any complaint of outright campaigning by politicians on Good Friday.

“So far, the reports we got were about vehicles playing jingles (of candidates) but not about those who openly campaign,” he said.