The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is unable to stop the spread of promotional materials of some personalities as they are still considered aspirants rather than candidates for Eleksyon 2025.
“Nalulungkot po ang Comelec, we would like to express that. Sapagkat alam po namin, kami po naman ay tatalima sa batas at desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Napakabigat po sa kalagayan namin at mabatuhan ng sisi ng ating pong mga mamamayan sapagkat naglipana ang mga pagmumukha nila,” said Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia in a ”24 Oras Weekend” report by Darlene Cay on Saturday.
(The Comelec is saddened; we would like to express that. We are aware, but we will abide by the law and the decision of the Supreme Court. The situation is difficult on our part as we take the blame of the public for the spread of the aspirants’ faces.)
In its decision promulgated in 2009, the SC said, ”Congress has laid down the law—a candidate is liable for election offenses only upon the start of the campaign period.”
Because of this ruling, the Comelec said it could not file cases or remove the promotional materials.
The election period is set to officially start on January 12, while the campaign period for senatorial candidates and partylist groups will begin on February 11.
“Sila raw po ay mga kandidato lamang sa unang araw ng campaign period. Ibig sabihin lahat ng ginagawa nila ngayon, wala pa pong election law na mag-go-govern sa kanila. Wala pa pong prohibition, wala pong violation,” Garcia said.
(They are only candidates on the first day of the campaign period. This means that there is no election law governing everything that they are doing now. There is no prohibition; there is no violation.)
“Dahan-dahan lang, medyo hinay-hinay. Huwag niyo pong i-underestimate ang katalinuhan ng ating mga kababayan,” Comelec urged aspirants.
(Take it slow, little by little. Don’t underestimate the intelligence of our countrymen.)
The commission also reminded the government regarding the ban on releasing funds for projects related to public works and social services 45 days prior to the elections, in accordance with the Omnibus Election Code.
Garcia, however, pointed out some exceptions.
“Pinapayagan ng Comelec ang exceptions na ‘yan, na sa aming palagay ay hindi naman pamumulitika kundi talagang proyekto na nakalagay sa ating budget at matagal na ring naiplano,” Garcia said.
(The Comelec allows some exceptions, which, in our view, are not politicking but are real projects already included in the budget and have been planned for a long time.)
“Ang [kuwestiyonable] na proyekto, ay ‘yung naisip lang ng politiko dahil siya ay tumatakbo,” Garcia added.
(The project is questionable if it was thought of by a politician because he or she is running for the elections.)
The Comelec will also not disallow the distribution of aid, as long as there are no politicians involved.
The Comelec will release on Sunday, January 5, the final list of candidates for the May 12 midterm elections.
The printing of ballots will start on Monday, January 6. — Jamil Santos/VBL, GMA Integrated News
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