What the heck?

A group of people are spotted Wednesday, January 26, 2022 putting up a tarpaulin of political candidate John Dalipe who is running for mayor in Zamboanga in the May polls. (Image: Zamboanga Post)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A group of people, accompanied by a Barangay Tetuan official, were spotted Wednesday putting up a tarpaulin of political candidate John Dalipe who is running in the May polls. 

It was not immediately known whether the people, all wearing t-shirts marked Team Dalipe, were barangay workers or not. One barangay Kagawad was in the area seemingly supervising the work at Don Toribio Street. 

A barangay vehicle was also in the area and it was unclear whether it was used to transport the tarpaulin and the people who hung the huge vinyl sign with photos of Dalipe, who is a mayoralty candidate; and his elder brother Rep. Mannix Dalipe who is also running for reelection.  

Walmart Atilano, the Barangay Tetuan chairman, is also running for councilman under the Team Dalipe. 

But Section 2(4), Article IX-B of the 1987 Constitution mandates that “no officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign.” 

And prohibited acts include forming organizations for the purpose of soliciting votes or campaigning for a candidate or party; holding political caucuses, campaigns or rallies; making speeches for or against any candidate or party; publishing, displaying and distributing campaign materials; and directly or indirectly soliciting votes for a candidate or party. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has warned barangay officials to refrain from engaging in partisan politics and favoring certain candidates. 

And Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also warned barangay officials against engaging in partisan politics. “Let us maintain the nonpartisan nature of the barangays. Barangays must shun politics at all costs,” he said, citing a prohibition under the Omnibus Election Code and Section 93 of the Local Government Code against engaging in partisan political activities. 

“They cannot campaign or endorse the candidacy of any person. More so, they cannot use the resources of the barangays for political activities. That is a violation of the law,” he said, adding, that barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials are nonpartisan by nature and practice. “The DILG has publicly said that barangay officials engaging in partisan political activities are violating the Omnibus Election Code,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)