THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is encouraging everyone to report all candidates who are caught using government-owned or controlled equipment and facilities for the election campaign.

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, in his message during the three-day Philippine Councilors League Quezon Province Assembly, said that he gave the local government operations officers a special instruction to get the public’s assistance in catching election candidates who are exercising illegal acts stated in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

“Ang election ang unang hakbang kung gusto nating magkaroon ng pagbabago sa ating bayan (elections are the first steps if we want to have a change in our community). The very first step is through the election,” he said, adding that those who are found guilty of an election offense will be charged with criminal and administrative cases.

Densing was one of the guest speakers during the Philippine Councilors League Quezon Province Assembly hosted by Cagayan de Oro City from March 5 to 7 at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel. More than 150 councilors from different cities and municipalities of Quezon Province gathered in the city for the three-day assembly which was anchored to the theme: “Legislature Ethics: Linking the Impact to Good Governance and Economic Stability.”

Under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, prohibited acts during the election includes: vote-buying and vote-selling; conspiracy to bribe voters; wagering upon result of election; coercion of subordinates; threats, intimidation, terrorism, use of fraudulent device or other forms of coercion; coercion of election officials and employees; appointment of new employees, creation of new position, promotion or giving salary increases; transfer of officers and employees in the civil service.

Also prohibited are intervention of public officers and employees; undue influence; unlawful electioneering; prohibition against dismissal of employees, laborers, or tenants; appointment or use of special policemen, special agents, confidential agents or the like; use of public funds, money deposited in trust, equipment, facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign; among others.