Headline
No campaigning on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday: Comelec
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday reminded candidates in the May 9 national and local polls as well as their supporters that campaigning is prohibited on April 14 (Maundy Thursday) and April 15 (Good Friday).
In an interview, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia urged aspirants and their supporters to take a two-day break from campaigning. He also asked them to reflect and observe the solemnity of the occasion.
“The Holy Week is a time of reflection, a moment of high spirituality. Other than being prohibited, campaigning will leave a bad taste in our electorate,” the poll body official said.
“Let’s pause for a while and in solemnity, cherish that which unites us and forget that which divides,” Garcia added.
At the same time, the Comelec official warned them of the consequences if they go out on the said days to campaign.
“What awaits them, more importantly, is disqualification and imprisonment,” he said.
Comelec Resolution No. 10695 prohibits the campaigning during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Campaign activities will resume on Saturday (April 16).
Meanwhile, Garcia denied the supposed conflict between members of the seven-man panel of the poll body.
“There is no such thing. It’s more imagined than real,” he said.
“No such rift, I assure you that, not even misunderstanding,” the poll body commissioner added.
The alleged rift started after the resignation of Commissioner Socorro Inting as head of the gun ban committee.
But, he said the senior poll body official remains as the chair of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC), as the Commission en banc has not acted on her resignation during the meeting on Wednesday.
Inting resigned as head of the gun ban committee amid the approval of the seven-man panel, with a vote of 4-3, of a new resolution after conducting amendments on two resolutions.
“On account of the promulgation on 6 April 2022 of Comelec Resolution No. 10777, which amended Comelec Resolution Nos. 10728 and 10757, the CBFSC has essentially been rendered functus officio,” Inting said in her Memorandum.
“I cannot in good conscience continue to remain as CBFSC Chairperson when this same position has already been made inutile due to the enactment of Comelec Resolution No. 10777,” she added.
In the new resolution, automatic gun ban exemptions were granted to top government officials.
Those who approved the resolution are Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, Commissioners Garcia, Rey Bulay, and Aimee Neri.
On the other hand, Inting, Commissioners Marlon Casquejo, and Aimee Ferolino dissented.
Abundio Mendoza
April 13, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Tama po..Dapat ipagbawal ang pangangampanya sa araw ng Huwebes at Biyernes santo bilang paggalang at pakikiisa sa mahal na araw.Bagkus Magnilaynilay po tayo at magsisi sa ating mga kasalanan..
Maria Teresa Belmin
April 13, 2022 at 7:18 PM
Bilang mga KRISTIYANO,Nararapat lang na maglaan tayong lahat ng oras at panahon lalo ngayong Semana Santa.Ito ay panahon ng pagninilay nilay at pag aayuno.Ating gunitain ang pagpapakasakit at pagpako sa Krus ni HesuKristo.Isantabi muna ang usaping Politiko at mga di pagkakaintindihan lalo na ng mga supporter ng mga kandidato sa bawat partido.Magkaisa tayo bilang mga Kristiyano.Alisin muna natin ang pumapagitna at naghahati sa atin na siyang nagiging dahilan ng di pagkakasundo ng bawat isa sa atin dahil sa bandang huli tayo rin namang lahat ang makikinabang sa mga programang ipapatupad ng mga mananalong politiko.
Stellara Florencio
April 13, 2022 at 7:54 PM
Holy week is a time for meditation and prayer. Candidates who are not catholic should also respect this period.
Vee-Jay Lee
April 13, 2022 at 8:56 PM
This is a wonderful respite for all candidates, as well as a moment to honor our almighty father and his son throughout this holy week. We must seek faith and love for Jesus since he is the saviour of humanity, who chose to sacrifice himself for us and treated us as he did. Holy Week is a remembering we should embrace with the strength of faith, love, and care, not merely a respite or just a relaxation days.
Joshua Bayola
April 14, 2022 at 7:54 AM
I agree. We should solemnly celebrate holy week without noise on the street.
Ivan Cris Ongco
April 14, 2022 at 9:08 AM
I agree with this because Holy Week is important as it reminds Christians of God’s sacrifice of his son, and also God’s love for his people.
Sonny Ramirez
April 14, 2022 at 9:57 AM
That’s good. Lets stay at home or go to churches and pray. Let us unite, a time for reflection, and remember and celebrate four events, the Last Supper, the Washing of the Apostle’s Feet by Jesus, Christ’s agony and prayer in Gethsemane, and the arrest of Jesus.
I hope after this holy week we could have a peaceful campaign and grand rally.
Sonny Ramirez
April 14, 2022 at 10:05 AM
Thats good because this is the time to remember and celebrate four events, the Last Supper, the Washing of the Apostle’s Feet by Jesus, Christ’s agony and prayer in Gethsemane, and the arrest of Jesus.
Lets stay at home, go to churches and fell the solemnity. And i hope after this holy week we could have a peaceful campaign and grand rally. Lets avoid negative campaigns. Let’s also pray to have a peaceful and fair election on may. And of course lets pray that the winning president would has a great vision to our country and a strong faith to God.
Imelda Galero
April 14, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Pahinga muna ang lahat. Anuman akitibidad yan ay atin munang palampasin,ating pagnilayan ngayon Hwebes ang huling hapunan ni Kristo sa kanyang labindalawang apostle.
Janice Ian
April 14, 2022 at 10:52 AM
Panahon ito na naghihirap ang ating Panginoon anuman ang gawain ay maaari naman ipagpaliban at sa ibang araw gawin. Tayo ay magnilay-nilay at alalahanin ang ating Panginoon na walang hanggan ang pagmamahal sa atin. At maging sandali ang panahonng ito upang lalong lumakas ang pananampalataya natin sa Kaniya,ating Panginoon Jesus.
Mary Joy Valdevieso
April 14, 2022 at 10:29 PM
Good thing that Comelec issued this kind of protocols. It’s Holy Week and it is just right to at least pause the campaigning program of every political candidates for at least 2 days. There’s nothing wrong with it, as we celebrate the solemnity of this occasion. Set aside first the rivalry, competition, the fighting and all the negativity in life. This is the time that we should be as one as Catholic. Let’s paste in our mind all the sacrifices our Jesus have done in order to save us from all of our sins. Let’s remember our Lord and be thankful for all the blessings and guidance that he have given to us. Repent for all the sins that we’ve done and take every word from our heart. With this simple actions at least we show our respect and love during the Holy Week. But I hope not just during Holy Week, but let’s do it everyday because our Lord deserves our Love just like how we deserve His love to us. Happy Holy Week.
Gian Michael De Polonia
April 15, 2022 at 12:05 AM
Time to Think it over! Keep Quiet for a few days at Pagsisihan ang mga Maling nagawa! Minsan lang ito sa isang taon. Sa COMELEC naman more Action please not just Warnings. Every Election na lang kasi Naparakaming Violations talaga pero may na-Disqualify naba kayo?