Holy Week: Time for candidates to reflect, rest

By Liza Agoot

BAGUIO CITY โ€“ The election officer of this city has advised candidates to use the Holy Week break to reflect and to physically prepare themselves for more activities related to the May 12 elections.

Interviewed recently on the sidelines of a Leaders Forum at the Baguio Country Club, Commission on Elections (Comelec) – Baguio election officer John Paul Martin reminded candidates that campaigning is prohibited on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

โ€œCampaigning is prohibited during the Holy Week so let us use the time to reflect and rest so we will come back rejuvenated),” he said. The Holy Week campaign prohibition includes the wearing of campaign shirts.

Martin has expressed confidence that most, if not all, voters in Baguio City have attended the briefing on how to use the automated counting machines (ACM) that will be utilized in the midterm elections.

“I am confident because we have conducted 58 ACM testing activities in December and January. We went to schools, offices, political parties and groups, so the voting process will be fast,” he said.

If all the ACMs would function properly on May 12, they could proclaim the local winners by 10 p.m. of the same day, he noted. (PNA)