The Commission on Elections is reminding all political parties and candidates to end their miting de avances or grand rallies by midnight Saturday, May 7.
That is because the Comelec campaign ban will start at 12:01 a.m. of Sunday, May 8, Acting Negros Occidental provincial elections supervisor, Roberto Salazar, said on Thursday, May 5.
The Comelec has also banned the selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving, or taking of intoxication liquor, and giving, accepting, free transportation, food or drinks or things of value on Sunday and Monday, May 8 and 9.
MAY 9 A HOLIDAY
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared May 9, Election Day, a special non-working holiday throughout the country.
There is a need to declare a holiday to enable people to properly exercise their right to vote, subject to the public health measures of the national government, Proclamation No. 1357 issued Thursday said.
BACOLOD RALLIES
Salazar also reminded the public to observe health protocols, which include wearing of face masks and physical distancing, at large rallies and during Election Day.
Asenso Bacolod led by mayoral candidate Alfredo “Albee” Benitez and Grupo Progreso headed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia are holding their grand rallies in Bacolod City on Saturday.
The Asenso Bacolod “Fiesta sang Pagbag-o” will be held at the Paglaum Sports Complex starting 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The Grupo Progreso grand rally program will start at 5:30 p.m. beside the John Paul II Tower at the reclamation area.
ENCOUNTERS
Salazar said the recent encounters between Philippine Army soldiers and communist rebels in Negros Occidental are not expected to affect the holding of peaceful elections in the province on Monday.
The encounters are the result of the Army’s intensified clearing operations to ensure the peaceful conduct of the final testing and sealing of vote counting machines and the elections on Monday, he said.
EARLY DELIVERY
The early delivery of election forms and supplies to areas in 21 towns and cities in Negros Occidental will begin Friday, May 6, Salazar said.
The requests for early delivery were jointly made by town and city treasurers and election officers of the 21 areas, Salazar said.
The early delivery requests were for 23 voting areas in Bacolod City, Calatrava – 26, Salvador Benedicto – 7, Escalante City – 18, San Carlos City – 11, Toboso – 4, Cadiz City – 11, Sagay City – 23, EB Magalona – 4, Murcia – 4, Victorias City – 6, Binalbagan – 3, Himamaylan City – 23, Hinigaran – 14, Isabela – 12, Moises Padilla – 1, Cauayan – 25, Hinob-an -1, Ilog – 3, Kabankalan City – 23 and Sipalay City -9.*