BONTOC, Mountain Province – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Epimaco Densing III warned barangay officials not to be actively involved in the campaign of their chosen candidates aspiring for the different elected positions because they will face the serious consequences of their acts that are in violation of the Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code.
In a video message, Undersecretary Densing called on the people to be vigilant on the partisan political activities of their barangay officials and for them to document these to be used as evidence in the filing of the appropriate charges against erring barangay officials who are involved in the campaign of their chosen candidates.
He pointed out that barangay officials must be apolitical and remain neutral in the ongoing campaign for the upcoming May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections and the DILG means business in going after barangay officials who continue to defy the law.
Further, the DILG official also reminded that the use of the resources, programs and activities of the concerned government agencies and the local government for the political aggrandizement of incumbent officials is not allowed under existing election law, rules and regulations and there is no room for barangay officials to be present in the campaign sorties of the candidates aspiring for the different elected positions both in the national and local levels.
He urged all barangay officials must remain neutral amidst the pressures they get from candidates aspiring for the different elected positions to prevent them from being unnecessarily charged because the DILG will not hesitate to file the appropriate charges against them once they will get the compelling evidence that will support the charges against them.
Densing also stipulated that barangay officials should not be carried away by the sugar-coated promises of politicians seeking election because it might cause their suspension or removal from their current positions once they will be found guilty of actively engaging in partisan politics.
He claimed that the appropriate memorandum covering the prohibition for barangay officials to be involved in partisan politics had already been issued and concerned local government operations officers had been directed to monitor the compliance of these officials to the marching order from higher authorities.
Densing called on the public to take videos of barangay officials involved in the conduct of partisan politics as proof of their participation in such illegal acts in support of cases that will be filed and pursued against them by no less than the DILG.
He stipulated that citizens should send such videos to the concerned DILG offices for the processing of the filing of the appropriate cases against erring barangay officials involved in partisan politics to teach them a lesson.
