Comelec pushes bills vs early campaigning

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is appealing to lawmakers to immediately pass the bills reviving the prohibition of premature campaigning after they received numerous reports of electioneering during All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day.

‘Close the loophole’

“Dear Congress, please pass that premature campaigning amendment already,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on his Twitter account.

“When we talk about premature campaigning this way, it’s to keep up pressure on Congress to close the loophole sooner rather than later,” he added.

Jimenez issued the appeal after the poll body received several reports of politicians putting up streamers and tarpaulins bearing their faces and names near cemeteries and memorial parks.

Senators Leila de Lima and Richard Gordon have filed bills that would prohibit any form of premature campaigning for any candidate ahead of an election.

‘Unlawful acts’

Under Republic Act No. 9369, “any person who files his certificate of candidacy within [the period for filing] shall only be considered a candidate at the start of the campaign period for which he filed his certificate of candidacy.”

The law also states that “unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall take effect only upon the start of the aforesaid campaign period.”