Comelec to poll aspirants: Spare Nazareno from politics

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday reminded aspirants for the 2025 midterm elections not to use the Feast of Jesus Nazareno to advance their political goals.

Comelec commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. emphasized that the Feast is a religious occasion and not a political one, adding that aspirants should not interfere with the conduct of the event which is attended by thousands of devotees.

He also said that aspirants may also celebrate the Feast and give assistance to devotees, but they should not use the event to distribute election materials and shirts with their names on it.

“Pinapaalala lang po ng aming En Banc, lalo na ng aming Chairman, na sa darating na January 9, sa Traslacion ng Nazareno, sana ho ‘yung ating mga candidates who are not yet candidates, eh maalala na ‘wag nating gagamitin ‘yung ganitong mga religious events and occasions para sa pamumulitika,” Maceda said in an ambush interview.

(Our En Banc, especially our Chairman, is reminding us that on January 9, during the Traslacion, our candidates who are not yet candidates should not use such religious events and occasions for politics.)

The Feast of Jesus Nazareno is slated on January 9. Among its highlights is the Traslacion or the procession of the 400-year-old black image of Jesus Nazareno from Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or Quiapo Church.

The poll body on Monday conducted the second and third leg of the live test of the trusted build of the election management system (EMS) for Eleksyon 2025. The first part was held last week, December 23.
—RF, GMA Integrated News