Camille Naredo

The Commission on Elections led by chairman George Garcia along with the Manila government remove illegally placed campaign materials along Oraquieta cor. Recto Avenue on October 20, 2023, a day after the start of the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

The Commission on Elections led by chairman George Garcia along with the Manila government remove illegally placed campaign materials along Oraquieta cor. Recto Avenue on October 20, 2023, a day after the start of the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Comelec reminded candidates to post campaign materials only in designated areas to prevent removal of posters and possible disqualification cases. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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BSKE ELECTIONS

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173597239749620231020-bske-comelec-campaign-violations-MT-4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Commission on Elections led by chairman George Garcia along with the Manila government remove illegally placed campaign materials along Oraquieta cor. Recto Avenue on October 20, 2023, a day after the start of the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Commission on Elections led by chairman George Garcia along with the Manila government remove illegally placed campaign materials along Oraquieta cor. Recto Avenue on October 20, 2023, a day after the start of the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday expressed its dismay about politicians who are already posting advertisements through billboards, television commercials, and even in newspapers ahead of the campaign period, saying they should be cautious about this. </p><p>Comelec Chairman George Garcia said while he was &quot;saddened&quot; by this development, the current election law in the Philippines does not cover this type of premature campaigning. </p><p>&quot;Napakabigat sa kalagayan namin na talagang alam namin na kami ang sisisihin at babatuhan ng sisi ng ating mga mamamayan sapagkat naglipana ang mga mukha nila sa kalsada, kahit walang nakalagay na &#x27;vote for&#x27; pagkatapos nasa TV, radio, dyaryo, sa social media nandyan na lahat… tahasan, diretsahan,&quot; Garcia said in a press briefing. </p><p>&quot;Ang katotohan talaga ay walang premature campaigning sa ating mga batas ngayon kapag automated election. At mismo ang Korte Suprema ang nagsabi na hindi pa sila kandidato. Kahit pa nag-file na sila ng candidacy,&quot; he added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/13/quiboloy-65-senatorial-aspirants-in-comelec-final-list-1115">READ: 66 aspirants make it to Comelec&#x27;s final list of candidates for senator</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/30/comelec-warns-individuals-against-politicizing-traslacion-1523">READ: Comelec warns individuals against &#x27;politicizing&#x27; Traslacion</a></div><p>Garcia emphasized that these individuals who post ads would only be a candidate during the first day of the campaign period on Feb. 12 if they are running for a national position and on Mar. 28 if they are running for a local position. </p><p>As it stands, the advertisements cannot be removed by Comelec, according to Garcia.</p><p>&quot;Lahat ng ginagawa nila ngayon, wala pang election law na nag-gogovern sa kanila. Wala pang prohibition. Walang violation, maliban na lang kung sila ay nagba-violate ng city o municipal or provincial ordinances,&quot; said the Comelec chief. </p><p>&quot;Ang kapangyarihan ng Comelec ay papasok lang sa Jan. 12 – in spite ng tinatawag na election period. Siyempre, hindi pa sila kandidato hanggang unang araw ng campaign period.&quot; </p><p>He instead offered a message to politicians. </p><p>&quot;Dahan-dahan lang, medyo hinay-hinay. Wag natin i-underestimate ang katalinuhan ng ating mga kababayan. Napakatatalino ng mga Pilipino. Alam nila kapag sila ay pinaglololoko. Alam din nila kapag inaabuso ang kabaitan nila,&quot; he said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/20/comelec-no-names-of-nuisance-bets-on-2025-election-ballots-1620">READ: No names of nuisance bets on 2025 election ballots -- Comelec</a></div><div></div>

<p>Comelec Chairman George Garcia said while he was "saddened" by this development, the current election law in the Philippines does not cover this type of premature campaigning. </p>

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said while he was "saddened" by this development, the current election law in the Philippines does not cover this type of premature campaigning.

'Hinay-hinay lang': Comelec saddened by politicians who post ads ahead of campaign period

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'Hinay-hinay lang': Comelec saddened by politicians who post ads ahead of campaign period

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 04, 2025 02:35 PM PHT

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