Philippine Daily Inquirer

Comelec: No PDAs, kissing babies in ’22 polls

- By Julie M. Aurelio @JMAurelioI­NQ

“Public displays of affection,” kissing babies and even handing out food will no longer be allowed during the campaign for the 2022 national and local elections as part of the new normal, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec spokespers­on James Jimenez said the usually big crowds during rallies, filing of certificat­es of candidacy, and Election Day itself would be “smaller and strictly controlled,” with physical interactio­ns between

candidates and voters to be limited.

“Public displays of affection used to be part of the whole idea of campaignin­g, as they say. Politician­s go out to shake hands and kiss babies,” Jimenez said on Tuesday in a forum organized by the House committee on people’s participat­ion, which tackled the pandemic’s impact on next year’s elections.

“You’re not gonna be able to do that anymore. Because that will certainly be very risky behavior. And yes, that qualifies as PDA and that will have to be strictly regulated,” he added.

The Comelec, he said, is drafting the “new normal’’ campaign rules and mass gatherings and rallies will be “very different.”

Jimenez cited as an example the practice of distributi­ng food packs to those attending political rallies. This ‘’high point’’ of such gatherings will be banned.

Members of the media, who in past campaign periods could join the crowds or interview candidates during rallies, will not be exempt from the new rules.

Only 5 inside precinct

“Comelec is preparing comprehens­ive guidelines on coverage, particular­ly with regard to safe coverage practices. One of the things that you see, videos of mass gatherings that are happening now prior to even the campaign period. You will see that even the reporters and the people shooting the footage are engaged in risky behavior,” Jimenez explained.

But he clarified that “mass gatherings cannot be banned outright. However, we can restrict them, and restrict them we will.”

On Election Day, Jimenez said, the changes may include extending voting hours and limiting the number of people inside a polling precinct to only five at a time: the three members of the electoral board, one watcher for a political party, and one voter.

“One voter at a time... This is the most extreme option being discussed. There will be a lot of room to amend this position. But in general, the idea will be to limit the people inside the polling precinct,” Jimenez said.

97 groups rejected

Meanwhile, the Comelec had rejected 97 party list groups that wanted to register for next year’s elections.

Comelec Commission­er Rowena Guanzon on Monday said 97 petitions for registrati­on of party list groups have been dismissed by the electoral body’s two divisions after they failed to include their “manifestat­ion of intent to participat­e’’ in the May 9 polls.

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