260 candidates vie for them, woo 65.7 million registered voters to win
Under the shadow of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the three-month campaign period for national candidates for those running for President, Vice President, Senator, and party-list representatives in the May 2022 polls will kick off today, Feb. 8, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.
In the first-ever national elections held under a global pandemic, some 65.7 million registered voters will troop to polling places to elect who will succeed President Rodrigo Duterte on May 9—among 77 national positions in total.
For candidates for local elective positions—members of the House of Representatives and regional, provincial, city, and municipal officials—the campaign begins on March 25 but also ends on May 7, 2022.
There are 10 presidential candidates, nine vice-presidential candidates, 64 senatorial aspirants, and 177 party-list groups.
Before this, the Comelec issued guidelines for candidates to conduct their campaigns in accordance with current health protocols, as denoted by the “Category” that mirrors the prevailing COVID Alert Level in an area as set by the national Inter-Agency Task Force on the disease.
The 10 candidates aspiring for the country’s top post are Ernesto Abella, Leodegario “Leody” de Guzman, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Norberto Gonzales, Panfilo Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Jose Montemayor Jr., Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, and Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.
In a briefing Monday, Comelec’ Education and Information Department (EID) Director Elaiza David said the campaign guidelines for this year are different from the usual campaign rules, as every activity must obtain the approval of the newly created National Comelec Campaign Committee, whose main function is to regulate the election campaign under the shadow of the pandemic.
David said candidates are no longer allowed to enter houses, or kiss and hug members of the public. Even handshakes and taking selfies are also being discouraged. Also, the giving of food, water, or anything of value is prohibited, and crowding and large gatherings are banned.
David said the live-streaming of the rallies of national candidates will also start on Tuesday.
Candidates were briefed Monday about the livestreaming.
Every day starting Feb. 8, there will be three sets of candidates per night who will be given the chance to livestream their campaign rallies on the poll body’s e-channel via https://www.facebook.com/COMELECeRallyChannel.
For the first night, Group 1 will be composed of presidential bets former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Faisal Mangondato.
Group 2, composed of Jose Montemayor, former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, and labor leader Leody de Guzman, will start on Feb. 9.
The third group, composed of Vice President Leni Robredo, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, will air their e-rallies on Feb. 10.
Each candidate will have 10 minutes during the e-rallies.
For vice-presidential bets, the airing of e-rallies for Group 1 composed of Manny Lopez, Dr. Willie Ong, and Rizalito David will start on Feb. 8.
The airing of the first e-rallies of VP bets Carlos Serapio, presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Representative Lito Atienza of Group 2 is set on Feb. 9.
The e-rallies of the third group of the vice presidential bets composed of former congressman Walden Bello, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III will begin on Feb. 10.
The vice presidential candidates will also each have 10-minute e-rally time slots.
For senatorial candidates and party-list organizations, each night five senatorial bets and five party-lists each are given three-minute e-rally programs.
For more information regarding the schedules, the public may visit the social media pages of the poll body.
In Resolution No. 10695, the Comelec also reminded candidates that it is prohibited to give donations or gifts in cash or in kind. They mayalso not appoint or use special policemen and confidential agents during the period.
In Resolution 10730, the poll body also stated that all campaign materials must bear and be identified by the reasonably legible, or audible words “political advertisement paid for,” followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit the election propaganda was printed or aired.
There are also size limitations to pamphlets, leaflets, stickers, posters, and streamers.
The posting of any election campaign or propaganda material outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner is not allowed.
Public places include electronic announcement boards, such as LED display boards located along highways and streets, and LCD monitors posted on walls of public buildings; motor vehicles used as patrol cars, ambulances, and for other similar purposes that are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations;
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, center islands of roads and highways;
Schools, shrines, barangay halls, health centers, public structures, and buildings or any edifice; public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government, such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Philippine National Railway (PNR) trains; and within the premises of public transport terminals, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, docks, piers, train stations, that are owned and controlled by the government.
Each party and independent candidate, with prior consent from the Comelec, may put up common poster areas in every barangay subject to limitations.
Candidates and registered political parties for a national elective position are allowed not more than a total of 120 minutes of television advertising, on a per station basis, whether appearing on national, regional, or local, free or cable television, and 180 minutes of radio advertising, on a per station basis, whether airing on national, regional, or local radio, whether by purchase or donation.
The Comelec on Monday also said the delay in the release of the certified list of voters would not affect the upcoming polls.
David said the poll body was removing voters who have multiple registrations and those who already died, causing some delay in the release of the voters’ list.
The expenses of candidates prior to the start of the campaign period are not covered by the guidelines of the 90-day campaign for national aspirants, the Comelec said Monday.
“We have no premature campaigning. So, any expense spent prior to the campaign period is not included. Even if there (seems to be) a violation of the guidelines, violations have not been considered because the campaign period has not yet started,” David said.
David said they have no data yet on advertising expenditures on various platforms.
Reports said among the presidential aspirants, Lacson was recorded the highest spender last year with over P900 million in television, radio, print, and billboard ads.
He is followed by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso with more than P700 million spent on ads from January to December 2021.
Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, spent some P500 million on ads last year.
Another presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has spent more than P300 million while Senator Manny Pacquiao only spent some P1.7 million in 2021.
Last Friday, the Comelec conducted its first coordination meeting with deputized agencies for the implementation of the guidelines on in-person election campaign activities under the new normal.
The National Comelec Campaign Committee, headed by Commissioner Rey Bulay as the Commissioner-in-Charge, met in a virtual session with representatives of the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to discuss details of the implementation which will start next week.
“As we approach the start of the campaign period on February 8, the Comelec, through the NCCC, wishes to assure the public that the duly constituted campaign committees nationwide stand ready to implement the guidelines institutionalizing the new normal in the conduct of in-person campaigns, rallies, caucuses, miting de avance, motorcades and caravans for the 2022 National and Local Elections,” he said in a statement.
Under Resolution No. 10732, the NCCC is authorized to classify the category level of each region, province city, and municipality, in conformity with the alert Level classification issued by the IATF.
The guidelines fully outline the appeals process in case the designated category level is reclassified, the application process prior to the conduct of any election campaign activity and the corresponding documentary requirements.
During the meeting, the agencies also gave their pledge of support to carry out their mandated duty as the general public and all electoral stakeholders will witness, for the first time, a nationwide automated election that is in full compliance with strict public health and safety protocols.
“In the enforcement of these guidelines and prosecution of violations thereof, we are likewise assured by the commitment of the deputized agencies who have been our valued partners through the years in ensuring not just a free, honest, peaceful, and credible electoral exercise but a safe one,” the poll body official added.