‘DQ for bets violating aid distribution rules’

MANILA, Philippines — By showing up or displaying campaign materials in areas where government aid is being distributed, candidates can get disqualified and the social workers or officials who allowed them in may be slapped with administrative charges, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Garcia warned that violation of restrictions in the distribution of various government aid programs during the campaign season is punishable with disqualification.

“That is abuse of state resources. The money is not theirs. That is not from a private fund, yet they will make it appear that they are the reason why there is distribution,” Garcia said.

“That is a disqualification case under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code,” he said, referring to prohibited acts under the law.

The Comelec on Wednesday announced that various social services programs of the government, including the controversial Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program or AKAP of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), have been allowed exemption from the spending ban during the campaign period.

But the poll body specifically mandated that politicians or candidates are strictly prohibited from attending any form of aid distribution.

He said this would include having streamers or posters of the candidates in the payout sites.

“When we say presence during distribution, that means no indication of politics, that it will not be used for politics. That is clear, not just physical presence,” Garcia said. The poll body chief urged the public to report violations.

Implementing bodies, he said, may lose their exemption if they fail to strictly follow the conditions set by the poll body.

Officials and even employees of such agencies may also face administrative cases, he warned.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds is prohibited 45 days before a regular election, unless authorized by the Comelec.

The Comelec granted the request for exemption of the DSWD for 28 of its programs, including AKAP and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation or AICS.

Garcia said he had