MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur--The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is calling on the public to be vigilant and report candidates who are using government resources to advance their campaign for May 9 elections.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the public can immediately report these unlawful election practices and the poll body can take action by immediately instructing their field personnel to investigate.
He said they can use these reports for filing a disqualification case or election offense case.
"Pwede niyong ma-videohan, ma-report lalong lalo na social media [you can take a video, report it especially through social media]," he said in a press conference here Saturday, March 26, responding to a report from a local media practitioner regarding the use of government vehicles in campaign caravans.
He emphasized that misuse of government vehicles and resources during the time of the campaign is a serious election offense punishable by one to six years imprisonment and disqualification under Section 16 of the Omnibus Election Code aside from the administrative liability before the Civil Service Commission.
As such, Garcia warned candidates not to engage in these unlawful campaign activities.
"Nakapahirap ng may disqualification case, sayang ang pinaghirapan niyo. Masisira ang campaign niyo at mawawalan kayo ng boto. Kaya iwasan nalang iyon. Just follow the law," he said.
[It's difficult to have a disqualification case, your hard work will be wasted. Your campaign will be ruined and you will lose votes. So just avoid that. Just follow the law.] (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)
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