PHILIPPINE ARMY (PA) commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. reminded troops to refrain from commenting on any political posts on social media to avoid allegations of engaging in partisan politics.
"Avoid posting, liking, sharing, and commenting on posts that are politically motivated, controversial, and fraudulent," he said in a statement Monday night.
Brawner also reminded PA troops about their two solemn duties -- to vote and ensure orderly elections.
“Let me remind you of our two solemn duties in the coming elections: vote and ensure peaceful and orderly elections. We will not tolerate partisan politics and military adventurism,” he added.
Brawner along with other major service commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Coast Guard witnessed the signing of the Joint Letter Directive (JLD) No. 01-2022 in Camp Crame, Quezon City which aims to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the coming elections.
The PA chief earlier reminded Army units to dismantle private armed groups as part of the service's efforts to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of elections.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said police officers and barangay officials will be deployed to monitor compliance of candidates with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines on election activities.
This as the campaign period for national candidates officially kicked off on Tuesday while the campaign for local candidates will begin on March 25.
"We will make sure that there will be (the) necessary deployment of security personnel, including the barangay tanods, to ensure they will follow the health protocols," he added.
Comelec Resolution 10732, issued in November last year, sets rules and regulations on the poll campaign under the new normal due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The resolution added that in-person campaigning is allowed in areas under Alert 1, 2, and 3 but candidates or their campaign leaders must be accompanied only by a maximum of five staff members under Alert Level 2 and three staff members under Alert Level 3.
No limit on the number of accompanying staff members for candidates is implemented under Alert Level 1.
In-person campaigning is not allowed in areas under Alert Levels 4 and 5.
The Comelec has also prohibited handshakes, hugs, kisses, going arm-in-arm, or any action that involves physical contact among the candidate, their companions, and the public under all alert levels.
It has also prohibited taking selfies, photographs, and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions, and the public. The distribution of food and drink and anything of value is also prohibited.
The DILG chief said candidates found violating the Comelec guidelines shall be held accountable for violation of the Omnibus Election Code and may be punished with imprisonment of one to six years with no right to probation, disqualification from holding any public office and stripped of the right to vote.
This is on top of violation of health protocols which is punishable by one to six months of imprisonment and a fine of PHP20,000 to PHP50,000.
Año said Comelec may relax the guidelines if the vaccination rate in the country further improves. ( Priam Nepomuceno and Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
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