Editorial

Local campaign season reels off

Here it comes, the campaign season for local candidates which reeled off last March 29, and which coincided with the official inauguration of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City. The BARMM’s regular election, however, is yet in 2022 along with the presidential election.

For your information, up for grabs in the May 2019 midterm elections are:  243 in the House of Representatives; 60 party list representatives ;  81 for governor and also 81 for vice governor;  780 seats for members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan;  145 city mayoral seats as well as the same number for city vice mayoral posts; 1,628 seats for Sangguniang Panlungsod members; 1,489 for municipal mayoral with the same number for municipal vice mayoral; and 11,916 seats for Sangguniang Bayan members 

Based on counts of the Commission on Elections, there are 61,843,750 registered voters nation-wide. The top five vote-rich provinces comprise 52.28 percent of all voters, accounting a totality of 32,333,808. Cebu has the highest number of registered voters at 3,082,621, followed by Cavite with 2,148,899 voters, and Pangsaninan with 1,946,682 voters.

The COMELEC told local candidates that Illegal posters or campaign materials outside common posting areas are banned. Re-electionists are also banned from having their names and pictures on local government unit vehicles and ambulances.

The COMELEC said it has notified  political parties about these rules. Those who spot candidates violating campaign rules may report to COMELEC's social media pages and hotlines. Those who violate these rules may be disqualified or imprisoned.

Also, COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez reminded local candidates to police their ranks and clean up after campaign rallies.

Quoting Jimenez as gathered by CNN Philippines, he said: "One of the biggest concerns really is people  do get unruly, especially in local election. Reign in your supporters. Make sure that your campaign sorties are clean. Do not leave trash lying around, especially when you're in a political rally or if you have meeting on the streets please make sure you pickup after yourselves."

In Cotabato City, two lady aspirants for the mayoralty post are re-electionist Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and Bai Sandra Ampatuan, Congressional representative of Maguindanao (1st district) with Cotabato City.

Local government elections are considered intense in the midst of divided loyalties, but mostly, if ever, these candidates have signed a covenant of peaceful and orderly election. Even then, the call of the COMELEC for the political candidates to police their own ranks is in place. We expect emotions to be tamed and not run berserk so as to guarantee a peaceful and orderly conduct of elections.

We also expect the COMELEC to ascertain the sanctity of the ballots through safety measures to keep off election rigging and to keep rules enforced.

To the electorate, you have ample time to make your choice of “who is who” is deserving to hold public office. In the stroke of your hand, the political destiny is at stake. The choice and consequence is yours to take, anyhow. So, choose wisely. Upend responsible voting.