COMELEC will check with DILG and CSC on political candidates’ use of government vehicles during the campaign period.
COMELEC — The Commission on Elections will consult with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) about the issue of political candidates’ use of government vehicles during the campaign period.
COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez said that the poll body has no jurisdiction if it happened outside of the campaign period because those weren’t candidates. On the other hand, Jimenez said that it’s important to know whose government vehicle that was if it happened during the campaign period.
“Obviously at first glance there seems to be a problem because government resources cannot be used for partisan political purposes,” Jimenez said. “However, there are some CSC guidelines particularly on the matter of political officers meaning to say who occupies elective office.”
Jimenez also said that persons who occupied elective offices were given a lot of leeway in engaging in partisan political activities.
Moreover, Jimenez said that the poll body will ask DILG and CSC to clarify how such a case should be handled, especially if the said vehicle was assigned to an elected official.
“What we need to clarify is if these vehicles are assigned to them as service vehicles; will there be a difference in treatment as well? Will the accommodations extended to political officers also cover their assigned government resources?” Jimenez said.
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Jimenez made the statement after a Twitter user tweeted him a photo of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. supposedly in a vehicle with a red plate.
The said photo was posted last February 7, a day before the official start of the campaign period for national positions.
I can’t make out the logos on the plate. Kindly – where and when was this photo taken, if you know. That will help speed up the identification process. Thank you. #votesafepilipinas
— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) February 8, 2022
The official campaign period for political candidates running for national positions in the 2022 elections officially started last February 8, amidst the ongoing pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Marcos camp denied that they have committed any violation of the election code.
“Violation of what? We were just invited by the good congresswoman of San Jose del Monte and good mayor, [and] official campaign period starts today,” said Atty. Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson of Bongbong Marcos.
Earlier, the CSC warned that it will impose sanctions on government workers who engaged in partisan political activities.
Those government workers found guilty of engaging indirectly or directly in partisan political activities will be penalized with 1 month and 1 day to 6 months’ suspension for the 1st offense, and dismissal from service for the 2nd offense.
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