Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson hopes that COVID-19 health protocol violations at political rallies will not cause another COVID-19 surge.
“It’s really hard to control, this is already the people speaking. We just hope that no surge will happen after this campaign period,” the governor said on Monday, March 28.
Bacolod Elections Officer Revo Sorbito said participants at the Team Asenso and Grupo Progreso (GP) rallies in Bacolod City Saturday violated COVID-19 minimum health protocols, especially on social distancing.
Organizers placed the crowd at the GP rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza at 45,000 to 50,000, and Team Asenso’s at 75,000 at the Paglaum Sports Complex.
Some supporters at the packed rallies were also seen with their masks down.
Negros Occidental Acting Election Supervisor Roberto Salazar said Sorbito will report the health protocol violations at the two rallies to the Comelec Campaign Committee in Manila.
It is the obligation of the rally organizers to ensure social distancing and the wearing of face masks, Salazar said.
He reminded the candidates to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Very clearly the national rallies have already violated so many protocols,” Lacson said.
“So far no surge has happened in the Philippines despite of all these big rallies,” he said.
He called comments that it took the election campaign to cure Covid-19 typical Filipino humor.
Meanwhile, the governor said he has not heard of reports of any campaign violence in Negros Occidental.
Lacson said he attended some local campaign rallies. “It’s like a fiesta, all supporters are out in the open and supporting their respective candidates so we hope to maintain that for the next remaining days of the campaign period,” he said.
Lacson said the provincial government is still waiting for Comelec advise on whether it can proceed with the distribution of National Housing Authority funds to typhoon victims and Department of Social Welfare and Development assistance.
They will put them on hold until the Comelec advices them that they can proceed, Lacson said.*