Prohibited Acts During 2016 Election Period

CHEERS TO some media organizations for reporting on the calendar of activities and certain prohibited acts during the election period (January 10 – June 9) released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 9981. The poll body promulgated the said resolution on August 18, 2015.

CNN Philippines, InterAksyon.com, Manila Bulletin, and Rappler ran these pieces prior to January 10, the start of the election period.  The prohibited acts include:

• the transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service,
• bearing, carrying, and transporting firearms or other deadly weapons unless authorized by the Commission on Elections,
• campaigning during the Holy Thursday (March 24) and Good Friday (March 25), and
• giving donations or gifts in cash or in kind.

CNN Philippines has been running “VoteEd: Prohibited acts during election period” since 2015.  Rappler’s “What are not allowed when election period starts January 10,” posted Jan. 7, included what to expect at police checkpoints. It also mentioned the legal consequences of violating the prohibitions.

Using material from the Philippine News Agency, online news website InterAksyon.com posted “Ano ang Bawal? (What is prohibited?) Comelec calendar details prohibitions during the election period,” on January 6 while the Manila Bulletin published “Election period kicks off Jan. 10, Comelec lists do’s and don’ts” on January 9.

Such information builds up the capacity of the public to evaluate the candidates and the conduct of the 2016 elections.