THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked local government units (LGUs) to take down campaign materials that violate local policies and regulations, saying the poll body has no authority yet to remove posters of political aspirants until such time they are officially declared as candidates in the May 2025 midterm elections.
Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier said their hands are tied in terms of regulating materials bearing the names and images of those who have already filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2025 elections.
He cited a Supreme Court ruling declaring that individuals only become candidates at the start of the official campaign period, which will be on Feb. 11 for national candidates and March 28 for local candidates in next year’s polls.
The Comelec has observed that political propaganda materials are already proliferating in various parts of the country.
He said only LGUs can implement their own policies particularly on the environment to remove materials that are clearly being used for campaigning.
“I appeal to our LGUs. I hope that you will not disregard the situation because not all of your constituents are happy seeing those things on the streets,” he said.
“We don’t have jurisdiction for now. They are still considered as aspirants and not yet candidates.
Similar posters and propaganda can be considered illegal and premature campaigning once political aspirants did not remove these materials starting February 11, 2025.
Garcia warned that candidates and political parties will be given 72 hours before the campaign period starts to remove all prohibited forms of propaganda, including names, images, logos, brands, insignias, initials and other forms of graphical representations on all public structures and in all public places.
The campaign period for senatorial and party-list candidates starts on Feb. 11, 2025, and on March 28 for congressional, provincial, city and municipal hopefuls, including those running for the Bangsamoro Parliament.
