COMELEC urged COC filers not to engage in “premature campaigning”.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) urged those who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2022 elections not to engage in “premature campaigning”.
In a television interview, COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez said that the poll body urged COC filers not to engage in “premature campaigning” since the campaign period has not yet started.
“I would discourage that because that can be considered as premature campaigning. We all know that it is premature since the campaign period has not yet started,” Jimenez said.
However, the poll official admitted that COC filers can start campaigning since there’s no more legal prohibition against premature campaigning.
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The Poll Automation Law stated that any person who filed his/her certificate of candidacy shall “only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period” and that “unlawful acts applicable to a candidate shall be in effect only upon that start of the campaign period”.
This was affirmed by G.R. No. 181613 (the 2009 Supreme Court case of Penera vs. COMELEC), paving the way for the removal of premature campaigning as an election offense.
The poll body has set the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2022 elections from October 1-8, 2021. On the other hand, the campaign period is from February 8 to May 7, 2022.
Meanwhile, poll commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in an interview on Teleradyo last October 1 that COC filers should limit their companions when filing their certificates of candidacy in order to ensure that health protocols were followed.
ABS-CBN News reported that presidential, vice-presidential, and senatorial aspirants were allowed to bring a maximum of three people, while a party-list representative may bring in two companions.
The 8-day filing of certificates of candidacy for president, vice president, senator, and party-list representative started Friday, October 1, 2021.
COMELEC has transferred the venue to a tent in Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City in order to ensure physical distancing amidst the pandemic.
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