AHEAD of the start of the campaign period for candidates for senator and party-list groups, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday reminded them to immediately take down all their propaganda materials that are considered prohibited.
In a phone interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia told political aspirants: “Don’t be stubborn. Taking down illegal campaign materials are good and laudable acts and sets a good example to the people.”
Garcia said all candidates are mandated under Comelec Resolution No. 11086 to remove prohibited propaganda materials before the start of the campaign period for the May 2025 polls.
“We are calling on the candidates to, as early as now, unburden us and have these campaign materials in public places removed,” he said.
Under the Comelec resolution, all prohibited forms of election propaganda shall be immediately removed, or caused to be removed, by candidates or political parties at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period.
The prohibited forms of propaganda include any names, images, logos, brands, insignias, initials, and other forms of identifiable graphical representations of candidates placed in any public structures or places.
Considered as public places where campaign materials are prohibited are electronic announcement boards such as LED display boards located along highways and streets which are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, or any agency or instrumentality of government.
Also prohibited are those placed in motor vehicles used as patrol cars, ambulances, and for other similar purposes that are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other agencies and instrumentalities of the government.
Campaign materials are also prohibited in public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government, such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Philippine National Railway trains.
The Comelec said propaganda materials are also prohibited in waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages, and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, and center islands of roads and highways.
It is also illegal to place campaign materials in schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centers, public structures and buildings or any edifice thereof.
The poll body also prohibited campaign materials in areas within the premises of public transport terminals that are owned and controlled by the government, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, docks, piers, and train stations.
Garcia said those who will violate the rules shall be held accountable for election offense.
“We will not hesitate in running after and holding accountable those that will violate our rules,” said Garcia.
The campaign period for national candidates will begin on February 11 and will run until May 10, 2025.
