Should there be any issue with Koko Pimentel’s appearance at a TUPAD orientation?

It’s frowned upon but it used to be no big deal — and even expected — to see politicians at a social service event. Such should have been the case on Friday, March 28, the first day of the local campaign period, when Marikina congressional bet Senator Koko Pimentel addressed an orientation for Tulong Panghahanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, or TUPAD, in his city.

TUPAD is a temporary employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Inside a covered gym in Parang, Marikina, on Friday, residents were told how many hours a day they would work under the program and how much they will get.

Then Pimentel arrived, and it was his turn to address the crowd. The senator who is now running against suspended Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro for 1st District representative talked about the warring Marcos and Duterte camps and the choice to not add to the chaos.

The senator, who is on his second and final term at the upper chamber, talked about staying away from conflict. He thanked Team Bagong Marikina — Stella and Miro Quimbo’s slate — for “adopting” him.

“I am already a senior citizen, too, and I’ve come from national politics. I’m not running in the local elections just to quarrel again,” Pimentel said in front of a screen that first flashed the poster of Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo, who is running for mayor, and then his.

Rappler livestreamed Pimentel’s speech. As the senator was about to wrap up his remarks, one of his campaign staff approached the Rappler team and asked them to not only cut the livestream, but also if Rappler could take down the video. (We didn’t.)

While Rappler’s livestream was ongoing, an online user commented, “They’re not even ashamed, even TUPAD, they used for their politicking.” But the comments were generally supportive of the senator.

Rappler left the venue immediately after Pimentel’s speech.

What could have prompted Pimentel’s staff to make the request?

In December, the Comelec exempted TUPAD from the election spending ban, along with several other DOLE aid programs, but the poll body also said that there would be no cash payout for this program from May 2 to 12, unless for medical or burial assistance. Incumbent officials and candidates are also banned from attending government ayuda (aid) distribution programs. (READ: Which forms of ‘ayuda’ are allowed, banned during the 2025 elections?)

TUPAD. Senator Pimentel inside a covered court in Parang, Marikina, where an orientation for TUPAD was happening. It was the first day of the local campaign period. Photo by Alecs Ongcal/Rappler

As the TUPAD orientation was held outside the May 2 to 12 period, and there was no aid distribution, the senator is still potentially in the clear — so why the fuss? Are his staff just trying to be extra cautious in this heated political climate where it’s just too easy to get canceled?

A day before the start of the local campaign period, Comelec Chairman George Garcia stepped up the commission’s anti-epal campaign with a warning not only to local candidates but also to their families and aides to steer clear of government aid distribution activities.

The campaign season in the Philippines is marked by a barrage of candidates’ posters in public places. Politicians hit the streets with motorcade campaigns, their catchy jingles blaring out from the speakers. Ayuda is packaged with politicians’ names and faces.

Epal in politics means officials who position and promote themselves in venues of government aid programs, or credit themselves in publicly-funded projects and infrastructure. – Rappler.com

Quotes translated to English for brevity.