COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia sees the urgent need to amend the country’s election laws that would curb the rampant premature campaigning.
Garcia has raised alarm over the shameless tactics of some candidates who exploit loopholes in existing regulations. While campaign materials that lack the explicit word “vote” are not grounds for disqualification, their intent is blatantly clear.
Social media is also flooded with promotional content, and reports of vote-buying—especially targeting barangay officials—further highlight the need for stricter rules.
We know of candidates who have been giving away huge sums of money, especially to barangay officials in what is clearly a form of vote-buying.
Garcia is urging aspirants in the May 2025 elections to take down billboards and other early campaigning materials, stressing it is not the start of the campaign period yet and warning that those who will ignore his call may face disqualification.
He also shares the public’s utter dismay over the proliferation of premature campaigning materials along major thoroughfares and streets and even via advertisements on TV and radio.
“They (candidates) must take them down before the start of the campaign period because that will be a ground to disqualify them. All of us are getting offended by these giant campaign materials we see on the road,” the Comelec chair said.
Despite his strong words, Garcia admitted that the Comelec is limited by the 2009 Supreme Court ruling in Peñera v. Comelec. According to the ruling and Republic Act 9369, aspirants only become official candidates at the start of the campaign period.
This loophole renders premature campaigning technically legal.
Comelec spokesperson, lawyer John Rex Laudiangco said that the 90-day campaign period for senators and party-list representatives will start from February 11 until May 10.
On the other hand, local candidates will be allowed to campaign from March 28 to May 10, 2025.
Garcia laments that based on Republic Act 9369 political aspirants may only be considered candidates once the campaign period starts and that therefore, he notes, there is actually no hard and fast rule about premature campaigning.
Now, in the absence of a definitive law prohibiting premature campaigning, Chair Garcia says the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is merely banking on the ‘delicadeza’ or sense of decency of political aspirants.
He hopes that the candidates will take it upon themselves to do away with the unscrupulous practice of going around the law by plastering their names and faces on the streets or even online using materials aimed at promoting themselves and hopefully get votes for the upcoming midterm elections.
“Let us not underestimate the intelligence of the Filipinos. They know when you are just making appearances, or when their patience is being tested,” Chair Garcia says.
According to him, the Comelec is being swamped with complaints and clamor from the public against candidates whose faces constantly and repeatedly appear on their social media feeds.
Amid all these, Chair Garcia is asking Filipinos to vote wisely on May 12.
“The power to elect is in your (voters’) hands. You should know who are the best and rightful candidates to be elected,” he stresses.
Chairman Garcia is so right. We, the voters, have the responsibility to junk candidates who have no sense of decency—those who wantonly disregard the rules of election and engage in premature campaigning. These kinds of people pose danger if given positions of authority.
Another red flag is if and when a candidate spends so much money like there’s no tomorrow, specially so if, to wit, such candidate has no known huge financial resources like legitimate businesses.
Sure as the sun rises tomorrow, these politicians, given a chance to get the position they want, will seek a swift ‘return of investment’ plus interests by robbing public coffers.
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