Tuesday, April 03, 2007 No campaigning on Apr. 5-6: police By Carlo P. Mallo
CANDIDATES for both national and local elections, including their supporters, are reminded that campaigning is not allowed on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Jaime H. Morente said this, adding that violators will be arrested.
Morente said DCPO policemen have been given marching orders to arrest anyone caught campaigning during these two days. He said everyone should respect the solemnity of the Holy days.
Section 4 of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 7767 states that “any election campaign or partisan political activity is prohibited on Maundy Thursday, April 5, 2007, and on Good Friday, April 6, 2007.”
The resolution further states that violation would be deemed as an election offense and could be used as ground for the disqualification of the candidate.
In addition, Morente called upon the local candidates to follow the common poster areas implemented by the Comelec.
He echoed the call of Police Regional Office-Southern Mindanao Director Andres Caro III to local candidates not to post their campaign paraphernalia outside the designated common poster areas.
Meanwhile, two days since the onset of local campaign, Morente said, there has been no election-related violence yet reported in the city.
With not much competition in the local scene, election violence is expected to be at its lowest in Davao city during this coming election.
Elections in Davao City have, historically, been peaceful as compared to other areas all over the country.
