Poll bets attending ‘ayuda’ distribution may face disqualification, Comelec warns

National

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has warned candidates to refrain from showing up or displaying their materials in areas where there’s distribution of government aid.

Those who will be proven violating the warning may be disqualified from running in the upcoming midterm polls.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that aside from the candidates, those social workers who allow these politicians to meddle and join the distribution will be facing administrative charges.

Garcia emphasized that the financial aid given to the benefeciaries is not sourced from the pocket of candidates.

The poll chief furthered that with or without the presence of these candidates during distribution, there should be “no indication of politics.”

This means that aside from prohibiting politicians and candidates from attending these distributions, there should be no campaign posters, streamers, or campaign material that can be seen in the payout areas.

“That is abuse of state resources. The money is not theirs. That is not from a private fund, yet they will make it appear that they are the reason why there is distribution,” Garcia said in a Philippine Star report.

Garcia added that these acts violate section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, an election offense that could lead to disqualification.

The Comelec granted an exemption to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) program of distribution like the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program or AKAP and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) during the campaign period which is 45 days before the poll day.

Distributing government aid during the campaign period is prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code, but there’s an exemption for those that are authorized by the poll body.

However, the Comelec warned that those agencies who violate or fail to comply with the given condition of the poll body may lose their exemption.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian already announced that they are prohibiting candidates for this year’s midterm polls from participating in the agency’s cash aid distribution.(LAO)