Comelec bans LGU rice dist, warns of pen

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia warned local Visayas officials against involvement in the government's P20 per kilo rice program, which could lead to election offense charges.

Garcia emphasized that Comelec granted a 45-day exemption for the Department of Agriculture (DA) but not for local governments to distribute subsidized rice starting May 2.

The chairman highlighted that any violation of this rule will result in penalties such as imprisonment and disqualification from public office under the Omnibus Election Code.

Garcia has also requested Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to consider temporarily halting the rollout until after the elections, emphasizing the need to preserve election integrity.

The Comelec imposed a 10-day ban on government assistance programs including rice distribution in the Visayas from May 2 to 12, with only burial assistance allowed during this period.

During his visit to Bacolod City on Thursday, May 1, Garcia announced that local government units (LGUs) will be held liable for an election offense if they violate the ban on distributing any form of assistance or 'ayuda', including the sale of rice at P20-per-kilo by LGUs.

The Comelec chairman noted that medical and burial assistance are exempted from this 10-day ban to ensure public welfare during the period leading up to the election.