By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said barangay officials are allowed to engage in campaigning in next year’s midterm elections but said they are still answerable to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) once they commit lapses.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Thursday that although a 2010 Supreme Court ruling allows village officials to do so, they must still follow campaign rules.
“Sa Quintos vs. Comelec… sabi ng SC, they are political. Magagamit sila ng ibang pulitiko. Pero tandaan natin na ang barangay officials, pwede ma-disciplinary action pa din. Maaaring hindi siya election offense pero may ibang batas mag govern sa kanila (In the case of Quintos vs. Comelec, the SC said they are political. They can be used by some politicians. But let us remember, they can still be subject to disciplinary action. It may not be an election offense but there are other laws that govern them),” Garcia said, referring to Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.
The SC ruled that “political partisanship is the inevitable essence of a political office, elective positions included.”
It said elected officials are not covered by the ban on partisan political campaigning for any officer or employee in the civil service.
The campaign period for candidates for national positions (senator and party-list groups) will begin on Feb. 11, 2025 and will run until May 10, 2025.
On the other hand, local aspirants or those running for congressmen, and parliamentary, provincial, city, and municipal positions can start campaigning from March 28, 2025 to May 10, 2025. (PNA)