Davao City election officer reiterates call on candidates not to yield to NPA’s PTC

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 5): Davao City election officer reiterates call on candidates not to yield to NPA’s PTC

The city election officer here warned candidates not to yield to extortion that goes along with the permits to campaign (PTC), to post and to win, by the communist rebels or they will be disqualified from joining the political race.

City Election Officer Danilo Cullo reiterated the warning issued by the national poll body in Manila not to give in to the demands of the rebels.

“The Commission on Elections in Manila has already issued the warning for all political candidates not to support this scheme by the insurgents,” he said.

He said that just like vote buying, someone must have to witness in court and attest that such situation really happened.

Cullo underscored the five main prohibitions as provided by the Omnibus Election Code from January 10 to the Election Day on May 9 ranging from the alteration and establishment of new precincts, transfer or movement of civil service personnel, use of bodyguards by candidates unless authorized by the poll body, gun ban and suspension of elected local officials.

He explained that the transfer or movement of civil service personnel might impact on the results of the elections.

Cullo said that the movement of poll body personnel during the election period could be one of the exemptions aimed at avoiding the familiarity of the election personnel to the candidates.

“A reshuffle of poll body personnel might start on the second week of January, 2016 starting from the Regional Election Director to the election officers in cities, provinces and municipalities,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=843476