The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday said the bans on firearms and the use of police officers as bodyguards by candidates will be strictly enforced during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (village and youth council) election period,
According to DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, instructions have already been sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prepare for the gun ban and the recall of police bodyguards from April 14 to May 21.
“The PNP should now start preparing the recall letters and send them before the election period starts,” Año said in a statement.
The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls will be on May 14.
Prohibited acts
Año said that the DILG, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and other law enforcement agencies will be working closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in enforcing the prohibitions.
The DILG chief said local government units (LGUs) during the campaign period which starts May 4 up to the eve of the election day are prohibited from doing the following:
-illegal release of prisoners
-construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges
-appointment or hiring of new employees
-creation of new positions
-promotions
-giving of salary increases
-remuneration or privileges
The DILG would also be imposing a ban on the alteration or establishment of new precincts, and on the transfer of civil service officers and employees, including public school teachers.
Elected provincial, city, municipal or barangay officers may not be suspended during the election period, he added.
DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the entire personnel of the department would be mobilize to ensure the effective implementation of the prohibitions.
“Our local government operations officers assigned to each LGU shall be coordinating closely with their local election officers and chiefs of police to ensure that the directives of the Comelec are complied with,” Malaya said.
“We expect our field personnel to also assist in informing all barangays of the schedule of activities and prohibited acts during the election period,” he added.
Don’t sell your votes
Meanwhile, Año also warned voters against engaging in vote-buying or vote-selling during the barangay polls.
“The barangay elections have been postponed twice. Do not waste your right to vote for matino, mahusay, at maaasahang barangay and SK officials,” Año said.
“Ang boto po natin ay walang katapat na presyo at nakataya sa ating boto ang pag-unlad ng ating mga barangay. We are the change,” he added. /muf