Comelec OK on Leni pandemic efforts in limbo

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked Vice President Leni Robredo to justify her request to keep her pandemic initiatives running even during the campaign period.

The commission on Friday directed the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to submit within five days a memorandum explaining why Robredo’s Covid-related programs should continue ahead of the 9 May elections.

“The memorandum,” said Robredo’s lawyer Barry Gutierrez, “summarizes the arguments and also answers the questions [raised by the poll body] during the hearing held today.”

On Friday, the Vice President and her chief-of-staff appeared before the poll body through a hearing held via teleconference to discuss her request on the continuation of her pandemic projects during the campaign period for national candidates, which will kick off on 8 February.

Gutierrez did not elaborate on the details of the hearing.

Robredo, who is running for president, had cited the need to keep her projects running amid the persisting threat of Covid-19.

These include her free mobile antigen testing initiative called “Swab Cab,” her teleconsultation service dubbed “Bayanihan E-Konsulta,” and her drive-through vaccination program “Vaccine Express.”

Her request came as the Philippines’ daily coronavirus infections hit record highs this month, driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

During the campaign period, candidates and their relatives from within the second civil degree of affinity or consanguinity are barred from participating in the distribution of cash, goods, or merchandise for scholarships, assistance for burial, healthcare, calamity, and other similar programs.

Exemptions, however, may apply. The Comelec may allow some projects to go on provided that candidates secure certificates of exception.

In previous elections, the Comelec exempted disaster relief operations in the rule as candidates had proven that these were necessary to “fulfill humanitarian needs.”