TABUK CITY, Kalinga – As the barangay elections draw near, Atty. Reyman Solbita, Tabuk City Officer of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), addressed government workers of the risks of electioneering during the recent City Local Government Unit (CLGU) flag-raising ceremony.
“Nagadu iti bawal tatta nga tiyempo iti campaign. Electioneering maysa,” he said.
This means that they are prohibited from making speeches, announcements, commentaries or holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate/party for public office; publishing, displaying or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate/party; or directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate/party.”
He also warned them of posting about the elections or candidates on social media.
“During the campaign, bawal iti government employee nga agpost iti Facebook (or any social media sites),” he claimed adding further that “dilikado dayta (posting campaigns online), maysa screenshot lang dayta maidarum kayu electioneering”.
Solbita reasoned that no government employee under the Civil Service should engage in any political partisan activities. “If you want to campaign during office hours, you take a leave of absence,” Solbita clarified.
According to Solbita, no matter how strongly an employee feels about a particular candidate, they should not back the same openly as doing so could cost them their jobs.
He did mention that candidates who are members of the employee’s immediate family are excluded from the ban, but they should campaign only after office hours.
“Ada agdamdamag nga mabalin agdonate tarpaulins donated by government employees ket bawal dayta kasi engaging in political artisan activity din yan,” he said.
Lastly, the COMELEC Officer warned against the disbursement of barangay funds during the campaign period of the barangay and SK elections as the same is likewise prohibited under the law.