Comelec asks bets to take down billboards, ads before start of campaign period

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday asked those running in the May elections to take down campaign materials that may be deemed non-compliant to the standards set by the poll body before the campaign period starts.

"Every single bit of campaign propaganda right now will automatically be in violation of campaign rules pagpasok ng February 12 for senatorial candidates," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said at a press briefing.

"All of that, because they are too large and obviously they are not in common poster areas."

He also said that the Comelec would not accept excuses such as "someone else or supporters put that up for me."

"If those materials are still up after the start of the campaign period, then it can be presumed that they are up because the candidate allowed them to remain up," Jimenez said.

"It is clear that they are benefiting from their presence and that might be a way to hold them liable," he added, noting that this offense may lead to disqualification.

Asked whether billboards with the photo of President Rodrigo Duterte together with political candidates, if any, would also be taken down, Jimenez said that it will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

"The rule of thumb there is look at the billboard. Take the overall... is it an advocacy or is it in purpose of only promoting or endorsing the candidate? So doon tayo magde-decide, based on that," he said.

Comelec rules

According to Comelec rules, the size limit of election candidates' posters is only 2 feet by 3 feet. Anything bigger than this would be considered a violation, Jimenez said.

The local officers of the poll body will also designate specific common poster areas, those with high pedestrian traffic, where the poll aspirants may post their campaign materials.

Furthermore, Jimenez said Comelec is set to conduct a dismantling operation.

"Magkakaroon tayo ng Operation Baklas, hindi lang natin ini-schedule pa kasi tingnan natin kung magko-comply 'yung mga candidates natin," he said.

Campaign period for senators and party-list groups will run from February 12, 2019 to May 11, 2019. On the other hand, campaign period for those running for members of the House of Representatives and other local government posts will start on March 29, 2019.

Other limits

Candidates running under political parties are allowed to spend P3 worth of campaign materials per voter within the area they are running.

Those running independently, on the other hand, may spend P5 per voter.

Party-list groups are allowed to spend P3 per voter.

Jimenez also underscored the broadcast time limits for the election candidates.

"For national election candidates, broadcast time limits for television is 120 minutes per station of origin and for radio it's 180 minutes per station of origin," he elaborated. "For local candidates, it's 60 minutes for TV and 90 minutes for radio."

Appearance in voter education programs and broadcast debates will not be counted, provided that all candidates for that position had been invited to participate.

Otherwise, it will be deemed by the Comelec as a donated airtime from the TV or radio networks.

"Everyone who organizes these, they will have to be careful about making sure that access is granted to everyone," Jimenez said.

Boosted advertisements in social media shall also be accounted for in the candidates' respective Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

"They will have to be reported but they are not prohibited per se," he said. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News