A poll watchdog reminded incumbent barangay officials that village assemblies set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government cannot be used for election campaigns and partisan political activities.
In a social media post, the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) echoed the Commission on Elections’ warning that such an act is punishable under the law.
The DILG has set the Barangay Assembly days for the second semester of this year on any Saturday or Sunday this October.
It added that the barangay assembly, under the Local Government Code of 1991, is only for the purpose of sharing with programs residents, financial updates, and problems faced by the village.
Violators will be charged with administrative and criminal cases in violation of the Omnibus Elections Code.
The campaign period for the village and youth elections runs from Oct. 19 to 28.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in Proclamation 359, declared Oct. 30 a special non-working day to give Filipinos the chance to vote in the polls. – PNA
