Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9) — Presidential candidate and labor leader Leody de Guzman said his team is already working with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to settle the possible election offense that arose from his proclamation rally.
“Inaayos na ng aming mga lawyers sa pangunguna ng Partido Lakas ng Masa ‘yan… Rest assured na tinatrabaho na ng aming team para harapin at ipaliwanag, ayusin ‘yung problemang kinaharap namin kagabi,” he said during a forum on Wednesday.
[Translation: Our lawyers through the leadership of the Lakas ng Masa Party are already fixing that… Rest assured that our team is already working on facing the consequences and explaining our side regarding the problem we faced last night.]
The labor leader held his proclamation rally at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City despite the lack of a special permit.
READ: Leody de Guzman pushes through with campaign rally despite no permit
A Comelec official said Tuesday the move is an election offense, which may be punished through a fine, imprisonment of one to six years, or even disqualification from the May polls.
“Definitely it is an election offense because the requirement is they need to seek a permit first before conducting a campaign so it is an election offense,” said Elaiza Sabile-David, director of the poll body’s Education and Information Department.
During an interview with CNN Philippines’ Politics as Usual, De Guzman’s campaign manager Sonny Melencio admitted there was a “misunderstanding.” He also apologized for the camp’s “lapses”.
The presidential hopeful noted COVID-19 protocols were observed during his proclamation rally.
He said his team will soon be holding sorties in Central Visayas and Mindanao.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report.
