The official campaign period for the local elections officially started on Friday but local candidates could only campaign starting Saturday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
“Official campaign period for local candidates starts March 25. BUT local candidates can actually only campaign starting Mar. 26,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in a Twitter advisory.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 9981 dated Aug. 18, 2015, local candidates can start their campaign 45 days before the elections.
READ: Campaign period for local bets off to a Good (Friday) start
The 2016 national elections is set for May 9.
However, campaigning on Good Friday, a regular Holiday in this predominantly Catholic nation is prohibited under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7166.
READ: Spare Holy Week from politics
Under Section 5 of Republic Act 7166 or “An act providing for synchronized national and local elections and for electoral reforms, authorizing appropriations therefor and for other purposes” campaigning is not allowed on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Comelec has warned that “any election campaign or partisan political activity for or against any candidate outside of the campaign period” would be considered an election offense punishable under Sections 263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code. IDL
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