No campaigning on Thursday, Friday

(UPDATES) CANDIDATES for both local and national positions will take a two-day respite from their hectic campaign schedules to give way for the observance of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, which Catholics considered the most solemn part of the Holy Week.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday reminded all candidates that campaigning is prohibited during Maundy Thursday (April 17) and Good Friday (April 18) as per Comelec Resolution 10999.

Garcia said any election campaign or partisan political activity for or against any candidate outside of the campaign period is prohibited and will be considered as an election offense punishable by disqualification with imprisonment under Section 263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code and also under the Fair Elections Act.

The law states that "it is unlawful for any person or for any political party, or association of persons to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the eve of election day, and on Election Day."

Asked on the traditional "pamamanata" such as participating in religious processions, attending mass, giving donations, or offering special prayers, Garcia said candidates are allowed to do these "if they are really doing it." But if the candidate is with his campaign team and distributing something, "that is not pamamanata, it is campaigning."