MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday urged aspirants in the May 2025 elections to take down billboards and other early campaigning materials as it is not yet the start of the campaign period.
In an interview, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia warned that those who will ignore the call may face disqualification.
“They must take them (billboards) down before the start of the campaign period because that will be a ground to disqualify them,” he said.
Comelec Resolution No. 11086 states that “all prohibited forms of election propaganda shall be immediately removed, or caused to be removed, by said candidate or party at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period”.
For the upcoming polls, the 90-day campaign period for senators and party-list representatives will start from February 11 until May 10, while local candidates will be allowed to campaign from March 28 to May 10.
Garcia said they expect these aspirants to take down their respective election propaganda materials three days before the start of the campaign period.
At the same time, the poll body chief noted that he is one with the public in being dismayed over the proliferation of premature campaigning materials along major thoroughfares and streets and advertisements on TV and radio.
“All of us are getting offended by these giant campaign materials we see on the road,” Garcia said.
Garcia admitted that they cannot do anything about these candidates since the Election Automation Law states that “any person who files his Certificate of Candidacy shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period”.
“What can we do? The law, Republic Act 9369, states that they are only considered candidates once we enter the campaign period. Therefore, there is no such thing as premature campaigning,” he said. (PNA)