Manila Bulletin
Comelec: No legal prohibition against premature campaigning for COC filers
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) acknowledges that individuals who have filed Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) are not yet legally prohibited from early campaigning.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guazon stated that COC filers remain aspirants and are not yet considered official candidates until the campaign period begins.
According to election law and Republic Act No. 9369 (Poll Automation Law), individuals are only officially candidates and covered by Comelec rules on campaigning once the campaign period starts.
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez previously explained that premature campaigning does not legally exist and actions taken before the official campaign period are considered freedom of expression.
The filing period for COCs for the May 2022 elections runs from October 1 to 8, 2021, while the official campaign period for national posts is scheduled from February 8 to May 7, 2022.
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