Poll violations reported in QC on first day of campaign—Comelec

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

Poll violations have already been reported on the first day of the campaign period in the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

In a press briefing on Friday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said that violations of campaign rules were already sent to his office.

“May reports na ng [There are already reports of] violations, and we are processing them as we speak,” Jimenez told reporters.

“Wala pa akong number (kung ilan ang complaints), but since this morning, I’ve seen more than six reports sent directly to me… mostly in Quezon City,” the Comelec official said.

The spokesman, however, did not disclose the specific areas in Quezon City where the purported poll violations were reported.

Likewise, Jimenez urged voters to be vigilant and immediately report any campaign-related violation to the Comelec.

However, he advised them to put safety first before anything else, explaining that “citizen reporting” would be more advisable, and that the public should avoid “citizen’s arrest.”

“Remember, the people who violate the rules are the people who don’t really care about the rules, and if you are going to confront someone who does not care about the rules, what are the chances that he’s going to care about your well being,” he warned.

“Iwasan na lang natin yon. Kung kaya nyong magreport, ireport nyo kaagad. Kung kaya nyong madocument without calling attention to yourself or without endangering yourself, then please do so. Makakatulong ng malaki kung alam natin ang inirereklamo. Kung alam natin kung ano ang inirereklamo,” Jimenez added.

(Let’s just avoid them. If you can report, just report it immediately. If you can document it, without calling attention to yourself or without endangering yourself, then please do so. It will help us a lot if we know what is being complained about.) /jpv

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