The term “Daang Matuwid” is considered as one of the battle cry of the administration party, the Liberal Party of the Philippines. It is often used also in various government-sponsored projects in different parts of the country, but a recent controversy involving “Daang Matuwid” caught the attentions of concerned Filipino voters.
See Also: Comelec’s Response to the Controversial “Daang Matuwid” Nicknames
According to a former Commission on Election commissioner, Gregorio Larrazabal, the legal counsel of the National People’s Coalition (NPC), the term “Daang Matuwid” could not be used as nicknames of presidential candidate Mar Roxas and his running mate Vice Presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
Numerous complaints was posted on various social media sites about the inclusion of the term “Daang Matuwid” in the names of LP bets Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo on the official ballot for the 2016 elections which clearly violates the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
According to the former Comelec commissioner, candidates can only use their nicknames and not other phrases as terms such as “Daang Matuwid,” the slogan of the administration.
The former Comelec commissioner was quoted as saying “The OEC says the use of government funds to directly or indirectly campaign for a candidate is prohibited so if there’s billboard that has the phrase or nickname ‘Daang Matuwid,’ that’s a violation of the OEC. That has to be taken down. If you see a billboard, a streamer or other material that has the phrase ‘Daang Matuwid,’ technically, that’s violation of the law and the person can be charged with an election offense,” he said.
The comments of the former Comelec commissioner was aired online amid complaints and inquiries the NPC legal counsel received after the start of the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV).