Voters urged to reject calls for poll boycott

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping that the electorate will not heed any calls to boycott the 2016 elections, stressing that a boycott may do more harm than good.

“A boycott is more harmful than anything so I will advise against it,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez when sought to comment on Ang Kapatiran Party’s call for Filipinos to boycott next year’s elections owing to what it calls the corruption-stained political system that breeds dynasties, celebrity politics and personality-based elections.

“While we respect such calls, it’s their right to call for it… but speaking from the point of view of a voter, I will advise against it,” added Jimenez.

He explained that resorting to a boycott of the electoral process would only hurt the democratic rights of every individual heeding such a call.

“When you boycott, basically you are taking yourself out of the political equation. You take yourself out of the question of whose going to lead the country,” said Jimenez.

But the poll official said Ang Kapatiran Party cannot be held liable for any election offense because of the boycott call.

“Voting is not a duty. Voting is not mandatory for Filipinos,” Jimenez explained.

Last Monday, Ang Kapatiran launched a campaign to stop registered voters from participating in next year’s elections.