2022 poll candidates urged to avoid holding sortiesLarge crowds gather around presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos, son of the country's former dictator, during his visit in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on December 12, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Monday urged candidates for next year’s elections to avoid holding campaign sorties that will result in overcrowding. “We are again appealing to officials and candidates to avoid holding gatherings and events that we know will cause overcrowding and might cause infections in the coming days or weeks,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in Filipino. Candidates, however, are already holding activities ahead of the official campaign period. According to a guideline issued by the Comelec, handshaking, hugging and kissing and other similar activities are strictly prohibited during in-person campaigning as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Philippine Star December 07, 2021 03:53 UTC