DAVAO CITY (February 25) — Candidates for the May 13 elections beware!
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has issued a directive banning candidates running in the May 13 mid-term elections to attend graduation rites as guest speakers in graduation ceremonies, in both public and private higher education institutions (HEIs).
CHED chair J. Prospero de Vera III last week revealed, anytime this week, he will issue a memorandum, enjoining all the higher education institutions, not to invite candidates to speak in graduation exercises and for state universities and colleges to prohibit them.”
During the the launching of Shared Genomics Core Laboratory in Quezon City, De Vera said he encourage all HEIs to do “aggressive” citizen and voter education by hosting debates — for both senatorial and local candidates — with the condition that all electoral bets are invited.
For state colleges and universities, de Vera said “They will need to get the approval of their Board of Regents because they have a public function and they are covered by Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules on political neutrality.”
For Public HEIs which violate the order would be served appropriate administrative sanctions under CSC rules and regulations, de Vera added.
“CSC encourages state and local universities and colleges to take part of the elections, express their views about candidates, but it doesn’t allow them to attend rallies, campaigns and handout leaflets and put on shirts of political candidates,” he said.
He added that private HEIs are not covered by CSC administrative sanctions but are “urged not to invite political candidates in graduation ceremonies”.
The Commission Elections has set the start of the campaign period for local politicians on March 29.
In many areas across the country, political candidate join public events to take advantage of the crowd to advance their interests.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
