Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia speaks during a press briefing at the Comelec Central Office in Manila in this photo taken on November 30, 2023. 黑料社 file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday that the poll body has no jurisdiction over barangay officials when it comes to their participation in partisan political activities, including signature campaigns to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Garcia made the clarification after Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., in a press conference on Monday, said that he had sought guidance from the Comelec regarding the involvement of village officials in the signature campaign for a people鈥檚 initiative.
鈥淲ala po. DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] po [ang may jurisdiction],鈥� Garcia told 黑料社 when asked if the poll body has authority over barangay officials鈥� participation in partisan political activities.
(There鈥檚 none. It鈥檚 the DILG [that has jurisdiction].)
READ: DILG to Comelec: Clarify barangay execs鈥� role in Cha-cha signature drive
Abalos, in the press conference, cited two separate documents from the commission that show opposing details on the prohibitions against village officials鈥� participation in partisan activities.
According to him, a Comelec en banc resolution dated April 8, 2022, exempts village officials from the prohibition under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
READ: Be careful with Cha-cha signature drive comments, DILG execs told
However, a Comelec Joint Circular from 2016 contradicts this exemption, he said.
This inconsistency prompted Abalos to write a letter to Garcia, seeking clarification on the specific role of barangay officials in partisan political activities.
Garcia said that the Comelec has yet to receive the letter from Abalos.