Candidates, who will be holding onsite sorties in Alert Level 1 and 2 areas will no longer be required to get a permit from the Commission on Election (Comelec) Campaign Committee (CCC).
This after the Comelec en banc decided to “recalibrate” its person-campaign rules as novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases continue to drop nationwide.
“Recalibrated rules for campaigning under the new normal approved,” Comelec Commissioner George M. Garcia told reporters in a message after the Comelec en banc meeting last Wed.
“No more CCC permits for level 1 and 2,” he added.
He also said the poll body will now allow 100 percent venue capacity in areas under Alert Level 1.
Prior to the new Comelec en banc resolutions, candidates need to secure a CCC permit when holding onsite caucasus, meetings, conventions, rallies and meeting de avance in areas under Alert 1 to 3.
Venue capacity for such activities also used to be capped at 70 percent.
In another development, Garcia also said they will be conducting random checks for printed ballots and vote counting machines (VCM) next week,
He said the measure aims to “clear any cloud of doubt” in the preparations of Comelec for the 2022 polls.
To note, election lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal accused Comelec of “lack of transparency” after it barred election observers from witnessing the ballot printing at the National Printing Office (NPO) last week.
Macalintal urged Comelec to conduct random checks on the printed ballots to ensure it will be free from defects.