MANILA: As campaigning for local candidates in the May 13 mid-term polls starts today, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is bracing itself for aspirants who will try to evade stricter campaign rules.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they are expecting local candidates to be more stubborn when it comes to adherence to the rules on campaign posters and common poster areas. “Let us be vigilant once the local campaign period starts. There, we will see more troublesome candidates,” he noted.
The 45-day campaign period for the local polls was supposed to start on March 29, but since this falls on Good Friday when campaigning is prohibited, the Comelec had moved the date.
The campaign period for senatorial bets and party-list groups started last February 12. The campaign period for all candidates ends on May 11.
Meanwhile, Comelec yesterday called on the public, especially the youth, to visit precinct count optical scan (PCOS) demonstration centres across the country to learn about the machines.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said demonstration centers would be put up in various accessible areas to enable the public to have a first-hand experience on how to use the voting machines.
“We invite the public to take advantage of the PCOS demo centres as this will provide them opportunities to ask our trained demonstrators about their concerns and experience for themselves how to use it,” he said.
Yesterday, the Comelec opened a demonstration center at its main office in Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.
“This is a perfect destination this summer, either individually or as a group,” he said. PCOS demonstrations will be conducted for free during office hours from Monday to Saturday at regular intervals of 30 to 45 minutes and will be open to the public.
The Philippine Star
