Comelec warns politicians vs premature campaigning

Beginning November 20, politicians who have already filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) but are still having their advertisements aired will be out of the 2010 race. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made this warning on Tuesday, advising candidates to refrain from having their informercials aired after the filing of their COCs and before the start of the campaign period. "Otherwise, they could be charged with premature campaigning and that could be a ground fo disqualification," Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told reporters. The filing of COCs will run from November 20 to December 1, while the campaign period starts 90 days before the election of national candidates and 45 days before the election of local candidates. It means that the official campaign period should only start on Feb. 9, 2010 and end on May 8 of the same year. Campaign period for local elections, meanwhile, will be from March 26 to May 8, 2010. [See related story: Premature campaign law can’t stop infomercials] Candidates in the 2010 polls are also urged to refrain from promoting themselves indirectly, for instance through the use of tarpaulins that have their faces and names on them. “Tarpaulins with your picture, what does that convey if not a promotion of your face and your candidacy to have more name recall?," said Sarmiento. The poll official also warned the candidates against taking advantage of the holiday season. “If there is a Christmas greeting or Christmas song that would promote the candidacy of that person, that will be covered by the umbrella of premature campaigning," said Sarmiento. During the last elections, candidates were given three days to remove their campaign materials after these were spotted by authorities, according to Sarmiento. But this time, Sarmiento said the public should help identifying candidates who are into premature campaigning. “We really appreciate it if a complaint is filed, we will welcome complaints filed by third parties and concerned citizens," he said. On the other hand, actors seeking public office will still be allowed to appear on their television shows even after the filing of COCs, provided that they practice “utmost prudence," according to Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal. “They should not directly or indirectly campaign or promote their candidacy, they should exercise the utmost prudence in the exercise of their profession, we’re not stopping them from the practice of their profession but they should be careful," said Larrazabal. - GMANews.TV