THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees nothing wrong with the move of the Cebu City Government to distribute 6,000 sacks of rice to habal-habal drivers this Saturday, Feb. 23, at Plaza Independencia.
Lawyer Marchel Sarno, Cebu city north district election officer, said the rice distribution will not be covered by the election ban on the giving of gifts as the campaign period for local candidates will start on March 29 yet.
Before the campaign period, such giving of rice will not be in violation of election laws, he added.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is running for reelection this May, allocated P15 million to purchase the sacks of rice to be distributed to habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) drivers in the city. These drivers are Cebu City residents and possibly voters this May.
Funds came from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (From PAC of SuperBalita Cebu, JKV)