MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the Department of Health (DOH) to take down all posters of its Malasakit Center program which has the face and name of senatorial candidate Christopher “Bong” Go.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said on Monday that they have already sent notice to DOH to remove Go posters due to ban on propaganda materials in government-owned and -controlled establishments.
“We sent notices to all candidates that have illegal posters, all LAHAT. We requested @DOHgovph to remove posters in Malasakit centers gov’t hospitals,” Guanzon wrote on Twitter.
Aside from government hospitals, politicians’ posters were also not allowed in health centers, airports, piers, and barangay halls since barangay officials are banned from campaigning candidates of the midterm polls, added Guanzon.
DOH’s Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop housing all concerned government agencies to make it easier and faster for poor and disadvantaged patients to avail themselves of medical and financial assistance from the government.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly credited Go as the one who conceptualized the Malasakit Centers while the candidate’s picture is often used in its promotional posters.
For his part, Go – a former special assistant to the President – has once again urged his supporters not to produce posters and streamers bearing his picture and name and has also reminded government employees to “stay neutral.”
“I’ve repeatedly said this, ‘Please remove my face and name from posters and tarps. Please don’t put those up and just use the money for the needy,’” Go said in response to Guanzon’s notice./PN
