The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday urged political aspirants to stop using religious activities, such as fiestas, in wooing electorates, as some politicians were seen joining in the procession in the districts of Tondo and Pandacan, Manila during the Feast of Sto. Niño on Saturday.

The said districts are vote-rich in the country’s capital city, with roughly 400,000 votes cast in 2022.

In a Viber interview, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said their call stays for politicians to avoid politicking during religious gatherings, including fiestas.

“Kung nananampalataya hindi po natin problema, wag lang namumulitika. Patuloy po ang ating panawagan sa paggalang sa relihiyon at debosyon,” Garcia told the DAILY TRIBUNE.

However, the Comelec Commissioner explained that these political aspirants are not yet deemed official candidates as the campaign period has not yet commenced, quoting a Supreme Court ruling in 2009.

“They are not yet official candidates (as per) Peñera vs Comelec. The official campaign period starts this 11 February for national posts, while the campaign period for local elections starts on 28 March,” Garcia said in Filipino.

Last week, Garcia was also asked in a forum of candidates doing premature politicking, answering: “Take your campaigning slow and easy. Let us not underestimate the intelligence of the Filipinos. They know when you are just making appearances or when their patience is being tested.”

During the “Buling-Buling” Festival, a religious and cultural event celebrated annually in Pandacan, in time with the town’s fiesta to honor its patron Santo Niño, some councilors, congressmen, including incumbent repeating candidate, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and Vice Mayor Yul Servo attended the festival.

On the other hand, incumbent Tutok To Win Partylist and Manila mayoral candidate also graced the festival, shaking the hands of residents.

Pandacan’s “Buling-buling” is a street dancing festival where its people, Pandaqueños, clad in traditional Filipino costumes, dance along the streets of Pandacan accompanied by marching bands.

Meanwhile, Rep. Sam Verzosa also posted on his official Facebook page that he joined the “Lakbayaw Festival” in Tondo, along with supporters clad with Verzosa’s campaign color orange.

He even twirled with street dancers who were yelling, “Ate, kuya, sino ba ang mayor nyo? (brothers, sisters, who is your mayor),” with the dancers yelling back, “SV!”

Other candidates seen joining the “Lakbayaw Festival” procession were Manila Mayoral candidate Raymund Bagatsing and Senatorial candidate, incumbent Senator Imee Marcos.