Garcia-Hernandez Municipality, Bohol
May 8, 2019
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte rendered his support to the local candidates vying for a provincial seat in Bohol during a campaign rally held at the Garcia-Hernandez Sports and Training Center in the Municipality of Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol.
In his speech, President Duterte encouraged the people to vote freely in the upcoming May 13 national and local elections. He reminded the uniformed personnel to maintain neutrality during the election season, and likewise urged his Cabinet members to observe ‘delicadeza’ when campaigning for a particular political candidate.
“Cabinet members are in the gray area if they can campaign for any particular political candidate, but the popular notion is that they can but pinagbawalan ko sila because every time that you go out wherever, you use the gasoline of the government, if not the car itself. So sabi ko sa kanila para wala na lang maistorya, and just to be fair with everybody, sabi ko huwag kayo magkampanya,” he said.
However, the President provided an exemption where Cabinet members could still convey their support to a particular political candidate during campaign rallies such as those attended by him, though they are not encouraged to campaign openly and publicly on stage.
“Do not do it because ako ang makakalaban mo, this is for my candidates and for the opposition. Everybody stand for a position must be respected, that is the rule in this country, this is democracy,” he added.
The Chief Executive also reiterated in his speech many of the administration’s positions on several target issues such as law and order, corruption, terrorism, illegal drugs and criminality, among others.
The President was joined on stage by former Cabinet Secretary and Bohol gubernatorial candidate Leoncio Evasco, Jr, and incumbent Garcia-Hernandez Municipal Mayor Tita Baja-Gallentes, who is seeking for re-election as the town’s chief executive.
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