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As the polling season begins on February 8, rules and restrictions have been established: Comelec

As the 90-day campaign season for national candidates begins on Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates of the restrictions that would be applied for in-person campaigning, among other laws.

Comelec’s Education and Information Department (EID) Director Elaiza David said in a Laging Handa briefing that the campaign guidelines for this year are different from the usual campaign rules because every activity must be approved by the newly created National Comelec Campaign Committee, whose main function is to regulate election campaign under the new normal.

Commissioner Rey Bulay leads the committee, and David is in charge of the secretariat. The Department of Health, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police are all part of it.

There will be no physical touch.

Candidates are no longer permitted to enter households and kiss and hug members of the public, according to David. Handshakes and selfies are also frowned upon.

Giving food, water, or anything of worth is also forbidden.

“A candidate can no longer do anything he or she wants, such as hold an in-person campaign.” Candidates used to go from home to house on a regular basis, but today there are restrictions in place, such as the candidate being unable to enter dwellings without the permission of the owner. Kisses, hugs, handshakes, and any other physical contact are also prohibited because “we must maintain or obey the so-called basic public health requirements,” she added.

It is also forbidden to crowd or gather a big group of people.

“As a result, crowding is prohibited, especially if the candidate is well-known. Selfies are also not permitted, and it is always prohibited to donate food, drink, or anything of value at this time in the campaign,” she stated.

Permission to assemble

Another new law that will go into effect is that organizers of in-person campaigns, rallies, caravans and other campaign activities must obtain permission from the Committee by submitting an application to the regional or provincial election offices where their events will be conducted.

“Those who will hold in-person campaigns, advance meetings or rallies, caucuses, caravans, or motorcades must make an application with the respective Comelec Campaign Committee, therefore national candidates should file their application with the Comelec regional offices.” Local to provincial ballots must be submitted to the Comelec’s provincial offices. “In the offices of the city or municipal election officers,” David added for municipalities.

E-rallies

The live-streaming of national candidate rallies will begin on Tuesday, according to a Comelec spokesperson.

She went on to say that on Monday, they held a meeting where they trained the candidates and their representatives on how to go about live streaming.

Starting on February 8, three sets of candidates will be granted the opportunity to webcast their campaign rallies on the poll body’s e-channel at https://www.facebook.com/COMELECeRallyChannel.

For the first night, Group 1 will feature presidential hopefuls Norberto Gonzales, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Faisal Mangondato, as well as former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

Meanwhile, Group 2 will begin on February 9 and will include Jose Montemayor, former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, and labor leader Leody de Guzman.

Vice President Leni Robredo, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Senator Ping Lacson, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno comprise the third group, and their e-rallies will begin streaming on February 10.

During the e-rallies, each contender will have 10 minutes.

E-rallies for Group 1 (Manny Lopez, Dr. Willie Ong, and Rizalito David) will begin airing on February 8 for vice-presidential betting.

On February 9, Carlos Serapio, presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Representative Lito Atienza of Group 2 will hold their maiden e-rallies.

On February 10, the e-rallies of the third batch of vice-presidential candidates, which includes former congressman Walden Bello, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, will commence.

Each of the vice-presidential contenders will receive a 10-minute e-rally opportunity.

Each night, five senate candidates and five party-list organizations will receive three-minute e-rally programs.

The public can learn more about the schedules by visiting the poll body’s social media pages.

Number of national jobs, applicants

There are ten candidates competing for president, and nine candidates are running for vice president.

There will be 64 senatorial candidates contesting for 12 senate seats, with 178 party-list candidates.

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