'We can't do anything' - COMELEC-CAR on issues of early campaigning

Baguio City, Philippines – The Commission on Election (COMELEC)-Cordillera maintained Wednesday, December 15, that the agency cannot control or even file a case against candidates who are doing political campaign even before the start of the campaign period for the 2022 national and local election.

COMELEC Regional Director Ederlino Tabilas, as reported by Mt. Province Broadcasting Corporation, said they cannot do anything as aspirants who filed their certificate of candidacy are not considered formal candidate yet until the campaign period kick off.

“We at the COMELEC, our hands are tied. We cannot do anything yet about them. Sinabi ito sa supreme court ruling na before the start of election period those who filed their COC’s are not yet considered candidate but mere aspirants.” Tabilas stressed.

While the campaign period is yet to begin, Tabilas explained that aspirants who campaign, posting tarpaulin in public spaces, doing motorcade rally and having advertisements on TV or radio are not considered to be violating the law on campaigning.

Tabilas, however, asserted that these aspirants should stop and avoid early campaigning if they really want fair, clean, and credible polls on May 9, 2022.

He added that if these aspirants got some morality in them, then they would not abuse the situation.

The campaign period for candidates for president, vice president, senators, and party-lists will be from February 8 to May 7, 2022.

For local candidates, their campaign period will be from March 25 to May 7, 2022.

OTHER NEWS