ILOILO City – As the countdown to the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) begins, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 6 emphasizes the importance of lawful election campaigning.
The stakes are high.
“Kon ano pa ang naga-bother sa inyo, i-klaruhon before you do anything kay it might lead to your disqualification or even imprisonment,” Comelec-6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan warned candidates.
The region’s electoral body is keenly observing candidates and their supporters to ensure adherence to the guidelines.
“Ang Comelec tama ka seryoso sa pagduso sa pagpatuman sang aton kasugoan,” Ausan told Panay News.
For questions or clarifications about campaign regulations, candidates or supporters are encouraged to ask their concerned election offices for assistance. Election officers will also hold briefings on the election guidelines for candidates.
Ausan also reiterated that the official campaign period starts on Oct. 19 and ends on Oct. 28.
Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) states that any person is prohibited from engaging in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.
As per Section 79(b) of the OEC, the phrase “election campaign” or “partisan political activity” pertains to actions aimed at advocating for or against the election of particular candidates for public office. This encompasses various activities, including disseminating campaign literature or materials intended to endorse or oppose the candidacy of any individual.
As Section 79(a) of the OEC outlines, a “candidate” refers to any person aspiring to or seeking an elective public office who has filed a certificate of candidacy, either individually or through an accredited political party, organization, or coalition of groups. A candidate who engages in an action intended to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates outside the campaign period may be liable under Section 80 of the OEC.
Dos and Don’ts
Ausan said among the rules and regulations implemented by the Comelec during the election period are the use of lawful and unlawful election propaganda in public places; regulations for campaign posters in common poster areas; guidelines for campaigning on social media and the internet; the duties of election officers; restrictions on campaign materials; and premature campaigning.
On the size and posting areas of campaign materials, Ausan reminded: “Sa aton tarpaulin which they can place in the common poster areas, abide with the guidelines of the Fair Election Act, or Republic Act (RA) 9006, nga indi sia sa sobra sa kadakuon nga two feet by three feet.”
Section 3 (Lawful Election Propaganda) of the RA 9006 states that election propaganda whether on television, cable television, radio, newspapers or any other medium is hereby allowed for all registered political parties, national, regional, sectoral parties or organizations participating under the party-list elections and for all bona fide candidates seeking national and local elective positions subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of candidates and political parties, observance of truth in advertising and to the supervision and regulation by the Comelec.
Under the Act, lawful election propaganda shall include:
* pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or printed materials the size of which does not exceed eight and one-half inches in width and 14 inches in length
* handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any particular political party or candidate for public office
* cloth, paper or cardboard posters whether framed, or posted, with an area not exceeding two feet by three feet, except that, at the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally, or in announcing the holding of said meeting or rally, streamers not exceeding three feet by eight feet in size, shall be allowed, provided, that said streamers may be displayed five days before the date of the meeting or rally and shall be removed within 24 hours after said meeting or rally
* paid advertisements in print or broadcast media, provided that the advertisements shall follow the requirements set forth in Section 4 of this Act
* all other forms of election propaganda not prohibited by the Omnibus Election Code or this Act.
Ausan also cautioned candidates about their spending, in which a candidate is only allowed to spend P5 at most per voter.
“They should never forget nga tama kagamay sang budget nila. Let us say kon 2,000 ang voters sang barangay; multiply by P5, andthat’s only P10,000. So, tan-awon nila tama kagamay sang allocated sa ila. Ti, karon kon damo pa sila mga diskarte sa ila kampanya nali sila dira ma-technical,” Ausan warned.
Comelec executive director Atty. Teopisto Elnas Jr. issued a memorandum on Sept. 4 to all regional election directors and provincial election supervisors about the summarized rules and regulations.
Prohibited election propaganda in common poster areas:
* billboards, posters, tarpaulins exceeding two feet by three feet
* campaign materials that violate gender sensitivity, obscene, discriminatory, offensive, and those that violate the Magna Casta for Women
* posters that do not bear the words “Political advertisements paid for/by _, or the words “Printed free of charge”
* posters that are “not stand-alone,” having the maximum size or lesser of two feet by three feet, and put together, or side by side to form a collage-like poster exceeding two feet by three feet
* single letters of names having the maximum size or lesser two feet by three feet, and then putting them together to form a size exceeding two feet by three feet
* posters/tarpaulins bearing the photo/picture of the whole slate exceeding two feet by three feet.
Posting of campaign materials
The posting of campaign materials in public places outside of the designated control poster areas, on private property without the owner’s consent, or in violation of Section 242 of Resolution No. 10924 and similar locations listed in Section 240(f) thereof is prohibited.
“For this purpose, the election officer of the city or municipality where the illegal campaign materials are posted or displayed shall notify the affected candidates about the fact of such posting. Otherwise, if no action is taken within three days from the issuance of the notice, there arises a presumption that the said candidates caused the posting of such campaign materials,” it added.
The following public places will not be the subject of Baklas Operations, pursuant to the same section in Resolution 10924:
* plazas
* markets
* barangay centers
* other similar places where posters may be readily seen or read and with the heaviest pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in the city of municipality
Social media and internet campaigning
The Comelec stated that it is permissible on various platforms, including television, cable TV, radio, newspapers, and the internet.
However, it must adhere to the prescribed limits on candidates’ authorized expenses, maintain accuracy in campaign materials, and be subject to oversight and regulations by the Comelec.
The electoral commission further stated that it is forbidden as a form of election propaganda to publicly present, showcase, or exhibit in venues such as theaters, on television or radio broadcasts, through social media platforms, or any other public setting the life story of a candidate or if his/her character is portrayed by an actor or media figure.
During the election campaign period, any candidate, either alone or in collaboration with other contenders, is allowed to conduct peaceful online political gatherings, rallies, or similar events.
These political meetings, rallies, and similar activities are not constrained by limitations or restrictions imposed by televised or broadcast advertising.
The act of live streaming on the candidate’s social media platforms will be deemed as an e-rally.
Every e-rally must include a disclosure stating its nature as a political gathering or rally and providing pertinent details regarding the date, time, and location.
Candidates may receive in-platform gifts and game currency but shall not be allowed to give gifts to livestream audiences or run promotions and campaigns that will award in-platform gifts or game currency to platform users and livestream audiences.
They are also required to include sign language interpreters and closed captioning in election propaganda intended for broadcast on television and/or the internet.
They are also encouraged to make their respective campaign materials available in braille.
Other prohibited election or campaign materials:
* murals in public places which contain the name, image, logo, emblem, insignia, color, initials, and other symbolic or graphic representation that is capable of being associated with a candidate or party and is exclusively intended to draw the attention of the public or stimulate the support thereof to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate for a public office
* the distribution of campaign materials that contain the name, image, logo, brand, insignia, color motif, initials, and other symbolic or graphic representation capable of being associated with a candidate or party, and is exclusively intended to draw the attention of the public or stimulate their support thereof to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate for a public office is prohibited; these are t-shirts, fans, ballers, hats, caps, ballpens, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, bags, sun visors, and other miscellaneous items of value.
For BSKE 2023, there are 148,005 candidates (89,309 males and 59,695 females) in Western Visayas.
Here is the breakdown of the candidates per province:
* Aklan – 11,613
* Antique – 20,789
* Capiz – 16,957
* Guimaras – 3,601
* Iloilo – 65,405
* Negros Occidental – 29,640
Comelec-6 data further showed the following:
* punong barangay – 9,247 candidates
* barangay kagawad – 76,051 candidates for 28,357 vacant positions
* SK chairperson – 9,783 candidates for 4,051 vacant positions
* SK kagawad – 52,924 candidates for 28,357 vacant positions. (With reports from Philippine Daily Inquirer and Palawan News)/PN
