Comelec head 'dismayed' over rise of propaganda materials ahead of campaign season

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia on Sunday expressed his frustration regarding the proliferation of posters and other propaganda materials of aspirants less than a month before the campaign period for the 2025 midterm elections officially begins.

“Syempre po nakakadismaya. Talagang ako na personally, mag-e-express ako ng pagka-dismaya,” Garcia said in an ambush interview.

(Of course it's discouraging. Honestly, myself personally, I have to express my dismay.) 

While the election period started on Sunday, January 12, with the nationwide gun ban taking effect, the 90-day campaign period for the national candidates (senatorial candidates and party-list groups) will not begin until February 11 and will last until May 10.

Meanwhile, the 45-day campaign period for local candidates will be from March 28 to May 10.

However, as the individuals running for the midterm elections are still considered aspirants and not candidates at this point, Garcia said that their promotional materials are considered legal.

“Pinapayagan kasi ng batas. At syempre, habang pinapayagan ng batas, legal ‘yan. Kung ‘yan man ay immoral or unethical, eh iba pong usapan ‘yun. Pero ang pinag-uusapan kasi kung legal ba ‘yan, ang sagot, yes,” he explained.

(The law allows it. And of course, since the law allows it, it's legal. Whether it is immoral or unethical, that is a different matter. But on the question whether that is legal, the answer is yes.)

The poll chairman also said there is no punishment in place for those campaigning this early.

“The law may be harsh, but that is the law. You may not accept what the law is, but that is the law. We are still a government of law, and not of men,” he added. —RF, GMA Integrated News