ELECTION watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) on Wednesday said sitting village officials in the Southern Philippines have been illegally seeking support for the upcoming elections through social welfare programs despite a ban on these ahead of the polls.

In a statement, LENTE said village officials seeking reelection in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and in South Cotabato have been giving scholarship grants, and spearheading immunization programs to garner political support.

“Collectively, these programs also fall under the rubric of premature campaigning in the context of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) Elections. These, too, are presumed unlawful unless a prior exemption has been granted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” the group said.

“Such practices restrict access to opportunities for public service and reinforce the deeply entrenched dynastic form of politics,” it added.

The Comelec has set the campaign period for village and youth council candidates on Oct. 19, 10 days before the Oct. 30 elections.

LENTE noted that officials from these regions also supposedly donated educational materials and built temporary shelters for residents.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, local officials found guilty of misusing public funds during the spending ban may face up to six years of jail time, a lifetime ban from holding public office.

“LENTE calls upon the public to maintain vigilance regarding the potential politicization of programs and social welfare services, along with instances of the abuse of state resources especially during the campaign period up to the forthcoming election,” LENTE said. — John Victor A. Ordoñez

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