BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental candidates for the May 9, 2022 elections are observing a two-day Lenten campaign break this Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
“Rest and reflect,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial election supervisor Atty. Roberto Salazar advised the candidates.
Campaigning will resume on Black Saturday, said Salazar, citing Comelec Resolution No. 10730.
Candidates who campaign on April 14 and 15 risk being disqualified. Comelec considers campaigning on these days as an election offense.
“Sinasabi nga po eh, ‘Give unto Caesar what is for Caesar and to God what is for God,’” said Comelec Commissioner George Garcia in Metro Manila.
Aside from disqualification, erring candidates may also be imprisoned for up to six years and lose their right to vote.
“Dalawang araw na nga lang po ang sinabi eh, mangangampanya pa, di ba? Ibigay na natin sa pagninilay nilay. This is our highest sense of religiosity. Ibigay na natin ang pagninilay nilay sa mga Pilipino. Baka pwedeng pahingahin naman natin,” said Garcia.
Political parties may also be fined at least P10,000 if found guilty of campaigning during the Holy Week.
Meanwhile, Salazar said there were no additional “election hotspots” in Negros Occidental.
He previously identified only one “Category 1” or “”yellow” area in Negros Occidental – the town of Don Salvador Benedicto.
Under “Category 2” or “orange” area, on the other hand, were the towns of Manapla, Toboso, Binalbagan, Hinoba-an, and the cities of Silay, Victorias, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan.
“Category 3” or “red” areas were the towns of Candoni, Moises Padilla and Escalante City.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10757, an area shall be classified as “Yellow” when it has either of the following:
* occurrence of suspected election-related incidents (ERI) in the last two elections provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups
* existence of intention partisan political rivalry with no participation of domestic terror groups
* possible employment of partisan armed groups (PAGs) by candidates in the area
* occurrence of politically-motivated ERI in the current election period, provided there is no participation of domestic terror groups; or
* the area had been previously placed under Comelec control
On the other hand, an area is classified “Orange” if it has:
* a combination of two or more factors in category Yellow
* there is serious armed threats posed by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), and/or other threat groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Maute Group, and Abu Sayyaf Group, and other analogous threats groups as may be declared by competent authority
An area is deemed “Red” when:
* there is one or more factors described under category Yellow, together with serious armed threats posed by CTG and or other threat groups
* history of/or current intense rivalry among contending parties and such rivalries could motivate people to engage in violent acts
* the area has been previously placed under Comelec control
* incidence of politically-motivated violence involving aspirants / candidates and / or their supporters
* violence facilitated by the employment of PAGs/PN
