Public urged to monitor 2013 bets taking advantage of 'Undas'

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked the public to monitor local and national candidates who might take advantage of All Saints and All Souls Day by putting up streamers and tarpaulins in cemeteries.

“Bantayan natin yung Undas. Tingnan natin kapag hindi napuno yung mga sementeryo ng mga tarpaulin at posters,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said.

Brillantes urged the public to take pictures of those who would take advantage of the occasion.

“Magandang kuhanan yun tapos ilabas natin tapos sabhin natin eto, tandaan niyo hindi dapat iboto pagdating ng May,” he said.

The Comelec chief said that he would no longer be surprised if prospective candidates would use next week's holidays to promote their candidacy because there is no law prohibiting such.

Brillantes said it would up be to the conscience of the candidates to do the right thing.

“I’m addressing it to the conscience of candidates. Siguro may pumipitik naman na konti na hindi tama yung ginagawa nyo. Ang sinasabi ko lang don’t take advantage naman of the others who cannot afford it,” he said.

Republic Act 9369 states that: “Any person, who files his certificate of candidacy, shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period”.

This was further established by the decision of the Supreme Court case of Penera vs. Comelec in 2009, which paved the way for the removal of premature campaigning as an election offense.(FP/Sunnex)