As campaign period starts, DILG asks candidates to ‘self-police’ on campaign rules

DILG Spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya. (Photo from his FB account)

MANILA, Philippines — As the 2022 campaign period kicks off, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday called on candidates to “self-police” on campaign rules and guidelines.

This is particularly for rules for in-person campaign restrictions related to the COVID-19 transmission, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

“Ang panawagan ng DILG sana mag self-police na ‘yung mga kandidato. Alam naman nila ‘yung batas, sana sila ‘yung manguna sa pagsunod ng batas para ‘yung kanilang mga supporters ay sumunod din sa kanila,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(The DILG calls on candidates to self-police. They already know the law, the rules, we hope they will be the ones to implement this so that the supporters will also follow.)

“They should lead by example para hindi na mahirapan ‘yung ating law enforcement agencies sa pag-implement ng mga resolution ng Comelec,” he added.

(They should lead by example so that our law enforcement agencies will not have difficulties in implementing the Comelec resolutions.)

For their part, the DILG has already oriented the police, as well as their personnel, of the rules and restrictions during the campaign period to implement them.

Under Comelec rules, in-person campaigning, where candidates and their supporters personally meet voters and conduct sorties in public places, will not be allowed in areas under alert level 4 and the highest alert level 5, but allowed “without limit” in areas under the lowest alert level 1.

In areas under alert levels 2 and 3, in-person campaigning will be allowed but the entourage of candidates will be limited to five in areas under alert level 2, and to three under alert level 3.

Full- and over-capacity crowds in campaign venues are prohibited.

Candidates will also be prohibited from all forms of physical contact such as hugging, shaking hands with people as well as posing for selfies or group pictures.

They were also warned against gathering crowds, entering homes during door-to-door stops and distributing food, drinks “and all other goods and items.”

JPV