Comelec Exec Calls Out Poll Bets Engaging in Early Campaigning

An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday called out candidates in the 2019 mid-term elections campaigning as early as now.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez reminded those who filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for senator that the campaign period for national positions will start only on February 12, 2019 and will run until May 11, 2019.

“Nearly all major senatorial candidates openly campaigning now – taking full advantage of the premature campaigning loophole,” he said in his Twitter account, @jabjimenez. He did not drop names.

The campaign period for local positions will start only on March 29, 2019 until May 11, 2019.

The poll body official, however, noted that they cannot do anything to prevent poll bets from campaigning early.

“It is very clear that the acts you can prohibit of a candidate, you can only prohibit at the start of the campaign period. Unless the campaign period starts, everyone gets to do whatever they want,” Jimenez said.

Republic Act No. 9369 states that “any person who files his COC shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period”.

He also urged those aspiring for public office to be prudent by not engaging in electioneering.

“We appeal to the candidates themselves: Right now, it’s a question of delicadeza. We really appeal to them to see it that way,” Jimenez said. (PNA)