Comelec spox to campaign rule violators: ‘I hope you lose’

Candidates in the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections who deliberately violate campaign rules deserve to lose, says Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez.

In a press briefing on Friday,   Jimenez had this to say for campaign violators: “Sana matalo ka.”

“(Sa mga) hindi disiplinado at hindi principled ang pangangampanta… I think it’s time that people stop being neutral about these people,” Jimenez stressed.

“If you see bad behavior that you would not approve of in someone that you know, why would you approve of that behavior in someone who presumes to be your leader?” the Comelec official said.

In such cases, Jimenez urged voters not to apply “double standards” for candidates they will support but who are violating election campaign rules.

“Huwag tayong double standard,” Jimenez said. “Huwag just because sinusuportahan natin yung tao, palalagpasin natin ‘yung violation. Ang violation, kahit sino gumawa, violation ‘yan.”

Jimenez urged voters to inform candidates, even if they were their allies or relatives, should they violate  election campaign rules.

“Kahit kakampi mo ‘yan, kahit pinsan mo ‘yan, kahit kapatid mo ang tumatakbo, ikaw mismo magsabi sa kanya mali ‘yan, huwag ganyan,” Jimenez said.

“Kung hindi makinig, sana matalo ka. Sana ang manalo, ang marunong gumalang sa batas,” he said.  /muf