Comelec bans campaigning on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday

WESTERN VISAYAS. Commission on Elections in Western Visayas Director Dennis Ausan (left) reiterates the ban on campaigning during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday while Police Regional Office in Western Visayas Director Police Brigadier General Jack L. Wanky (right) orders full deployment of police personnel for Holy Week security in strategic areas across the region.
WESTERN VISAYAS. Commission on Elections in Western Visayas Director Dennis Ausan (left) reiterates the ban on campaigning during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday while Police Regional Office in Western Visayas Director Police Brigadier General Jack L. Wanky (right) orders full deployment of police personnel for Holy Week security in strategic areas across the region. (Photo courtesy of Leo Solinap)
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THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections that campaigning is strictly prohibited on Maundy Thursday, April 17, and Good Friday, April 18, in observance of Holy Week.

“Electioneering is not allowed on these days,” said Lawyer Dennis Ausan, regional director of the Commission on Elections in Western Visayas, in a media interview on Friday, April 11, 2025.

He said prohibited campaigning will be considered an election offense.

Ausan clarified that campaigning, including print, broadcast, social media, house-to-house, and verbal promotions, is strictly prohibited in all forms.

Under Republic Act 7166 and other Comelec resolutions, any activity meant to promote a candidate or discredit an opponent is considered partisan political activity and is strictly prohibited on those dates.

Ausan emphasized the importance of Holy Week and urged candidates to respect it, urging them to use the time for reflection and family.

Individuals can file complaints with the police or Comelec, which will be forwarded to the regional trial court. Ausan stated that this is a criminal case against the people of the Philippines.

He clarified that the commission cannot act independently without a formal complaint, as it requires affidavits to build a case.

Violators may face criminal charges and possible disqualification from the elections.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) has finalized its security plan for Holy Week 2025 to ensure the safety of residents and tourists visiting churches, ports, terminals, malls, and other areas of convergence across the region.

Police Brigadier General Jack L. Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6), said their deployment is in collaboration with local government units and agencies.

"Moreover, supporting us are the Barangay officials, Barangay Tanods, and other force multipliers,” Wanky said.

Police assistance desks will be established in key areas to assist the public, while uniformed personnel from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo), Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo), Bacolod City Police Office (Bcpo), Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO), Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), Aklan Police Provincial Office (Akppo), Antique Police Provincial Office (Antppo), Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit in Western Visayas (RPDEU), Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Western Visayas (RMFB 6), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Regional Field Unit in Western Visayas (CIDG-RFU 6) will conduct foot and mobile patrols, checkpoints, and other law enforcement operations.

In addition, personnel from Municipal Police Stations (MPS), Iloilo City Police Stations (ICPS), Iloilo City Mobile Force Company (ICMFC), Regional Intelligence Unit in Western Visayas (RIU), and Component City Police Stations (CCPS) will also be mobilized throughout the region.

“As we celebrate this Lenten Season, it is expected that majority of the people will be traveling to different religious sites, visit churches and other landmark areas. Some will be travelling to their hometowns and tourist destinations for rest and leisure,” Wanky said.

He advised the public to take precautionary measures and ensure they have access to hotline numbers for police and other emergency services while traveling.

“We recommend that the traveling public acquaint themselves with and save the hotline numbers of the police and other government agencies in the areas they are visiting for immediate assistance when the need arises,” he added. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)

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