Public urged to report illegal campaign materials

On the eve of the start of the campaign period for Senate and party-list group candidates, the Commission on Elections urged the public to report illegal campaign materials that do not comply with the commission's guidelines.

"Premature campaigning, hindi naman talaga nagbabawal ng batas 'yan. So pinapabayaan natin. Ang problema, pag pasok ng campaign period, bawal na 'yan. At karamihan sa mga nakapaskil sa kanila, in violation of our campaign rules," said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez in a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on 24 Oras on Monday.

Possible violations include campaign materials not being placed in the common poster areas designated by Comelec and materials being larger than the size allowed by the commission.

2' x 3'

Posters' dimensions must not be larger than two feet by three feet, while streamers for rallies must not exceed three feet by eight feet in length. These must be placed not earlier than five days before the event, and taken down within 24 hours after the event.

The Comelec's Resolution No. 10488 details more guidelines on campaign materials.

Comelec also clarified that the campaign materials currently being scrutinized belong to national (senatorial and party-list) candidates, as the campaign period for candidates for local positions will only begin on March 29.

#SumbongSaComelec 

Anyone can report illegal campaign materials, the report said.

The public should take a photo of the material and post it on social media with the hashtag #SumbongSaComelec.

The sender should also describe how it violates Comelec guidelines, and say where the material is located.

Jimenez said that candidates with have been given a grace period during which they should take down any illegal campaign materials.

"Siguro by Friday, a little past the actual grace period, magdo-document tayo sa mga major thoroughfares dito sa Metro Manila," he said.

Campaign period

The campaign period for national candidates—senatorial and party-list bets—runs from February 12 to May 11, 2019.

The campaign period for candidates running for the House of Representatives and for regional, provincial, city and municipal posts will be from March 29 to May 11, 2019.

Campaigning will be suspended for Maundy Thursday on April 18 and Good Friday on April 19.

Campaigning will also be banned on May 12, the eve of the elections, and May 13, Election Day itself. The liquor ban will also take effect on these days, while the gun ban has been in effect since January 13, 2019. — BM, GMA News