The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is poised to enforce a ban on premature campaigning for the May 2025 midterm elections, according to Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia.
The ban targets candidates who have already filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs), considering them as official candidates upon filing in October.
This action aligns with Comelec’s mandate to uphold election laws. The Poll Automation Law stipulates that a candidate is recognized only at the start of the campaign period.
In 2009, the Supreme Court affirmed this provision, eliminating premature campaigning as an election offense.
Garcia emphasized Comelec’s commitment to proceed with the plan while respecting any Supreme Court rulings.
In the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), Comelec issued show cause orders to 7,500 candidates for premature campaigning, with 253 winning candidates awaiting proclamation pending their cases.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 6, 2024
