Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo (left) urges her supporters to vote for Team Daang Matuwid during a rally held at the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City on Friday (April 1, 2016). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – A former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner said the inclusion of the term “Daang Matuwid” in the names of Liberal Party (LP) bets Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo on the official ballot for the 2016 elections violates the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
Former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, who now serves as legal counsel of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said candidates can only use their nicknames and not other phrases and terms such as “Daang Matuwid,” the slogan of the administration.
“The OEC says the use of government funds to directly or indirectly campaign for a candidate is prohibited so if there’s billboard that has the phrase or nickname ‘Daang Matuwid,’ that’s a violation of the OEC. That has to be taken down. If you see a billboard, a streamer or other material that has the phrase ‘Daang Matuwid,’ technically, that’s violation of the law and the person can be charged with an election offense,” he said.
Larrazabal made the comment amid complaints and inquiries he received after the start of the overseas absentee voting (OAV).
“At the start of the OAV a lot of people contacted me, asking about the ballot face. They were wondering why ‘Daang Matuwid’ was included in the name of some candidates and asked me if it was allowed. I looked at the rules. Comelec only allowed the use of nicknames and ‘Daang Matuwid’ is not a nickname. I told them the candidates are supposed to be allowed to use only their nicknames.” (MNS(