Friday, March 30, 2007 Comelec to local candidates: Be sober
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) here asked that local aspirants should stay away from "dirty" propaganda during campaigns as election period begins.
Provincial Election Supervisor and Concurrent Iloilo City Election Officer IV Atty. Elizabeth Doronila, appealed to candidates to be sober and refrain from mudslinging or character assassination but rather focus their campaign on issues and their platforms of governance.
The same view is shared by the present administration, which believes that the people want to know more about what and how the candidates can deliver in terms of more jobs, better health care and education, more housing and stable prices. Moreover, the administration wants to give the electorate an informed choice in the forthcoming elections.
To ensure a peaceful election, Doronila encouraged local candidates to enter into a peace covenant with the Election Officers and Philippine National Police in their respective province, city or municipality.
She further appealed to candidates to follow all Comelec rules and regulations particularly on the guidelines on propaganda materials.
Likewise, Doronila reminded candidates not to forget to file their statement of expenditures especially after the conduct of their rallies. No person elected to any public office shall assume the duties of his/her office until he/she has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures under the Omnibus Election Code.
Doronila said candidates are not allowed to campaign on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, April 5 and 6, the day before the election, May 13 and on election - day itself, May 14. The campaign period for local position ends on May 12. (PIA)
