THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) on Monday reiterated the zero campaigning policy on April 17- 18 in observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
This is in line with Comelec Resolution No. 10999 published in May 2024 providing guidelines for a calendar of activities for May 12 National and Local Elections.
The resolution provides for campaigning on these dates where Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is prohibited.
“Any election campaign or partisan political activity for or against any candidate outside of the campaign period is prohibited and shall be considered as an ELECTION OFFENSE,” Comelec stressed.
The prohibited act is punishable under Section 263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code.
“In the preparation of the election calendar, the Commission may exclude the day before the day of the election itself, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday,” Section 5 of RA 1766 reads.
Any person found guilty of the election offense under the Code may be punished with imprisonment of six years, and shall not be subject to probation.
The guilty party shall be subject to disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.
Political parties found guilty will be required to pay not less than P10,000, which shall be imposed after a criminal action has been instituted where their corresponding officials have been found guilty.
