The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday reminded that no politicians should be present during aid distribution by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to prevent them from politicking government assistance.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the poll body will not stop the distribution of the aids, the assistances to the poor and in need, but the DSWD, he stressed, must fulfill the conditionalities that the Commission put.

“At isa sa pinaka-importante na ating sinulat ay dapat walang pulitiko o kandidatong present during the distribution ng mga ayuda na 'to (And one of the most important, there should be no politicians or candidates present during the distribution of these aids) regardless of the name of the ayuda (aid), regardless of the nature, regardless of the form,” Garcia said.

“Naniniwala po tayo sa kabutihan ng pamunuan ng DSWD na hindi naman nila pababayaan na mapariwara na magamit nang mali ang kanilang ipinamamahagi na tulong sa ating mga kababayan (We believe in the goodness of the DSWD leadership that they will not allow the aid they distribute to our countrymen to be misused),” he added.

Garcia furthered that they will not interfere with how the DSWD distributes their aids as long as they will not be used to promote and endorse candidates.