MANILA, Philippines?Presidential aspirants for the 2010 elections with running infomercials cannot be covered by the law on premature campaigning yet, Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said.

Marquez explained that the presidential hopefuls cannot be covered by the Omnibus Election Code until they have filed their certificates of candidacy.

?Aspirants for president with running infomercials are not covered by the law dahil hindi pa naman sila nagpa-file ng certificate of candidacy (since they have not yet filed their certificate of candidacy),? Marquez said.

The Omnibus Election Code prescribes a 90-day campaign period before Election Day for national candidates.

?May certain period of campaigning for national and local candidate at ito ay maliwanag sa batas ng Comelec (There is a certain period of campaigning for national and local candidate and this is clear in the OEC),? Marquez further said.

Section 80 of the Code provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.

Among the presidential aspirants who have running infomercials are Senator Manuel ?Manny? Villar, Jr, Defense Secretary Gilberto ?Gibo? Teodoro Jr., and Vice President Noli ?Kabayan? De Castro.

The Commission on Elections has set the period of November 20-30 this year within which aspirants for national positions may file their certificate of candidacy in time for the May 10, 2010 general elections.