Comelec Urges Election Hopefuls to Remove Campaign Materials Early or Risk Disqualification

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a stern warning to candidates gearing up for the May 2025 elections, advising them to dismantle their campaign billboards and other promotional materials before the official campaign period begins. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasized that failure to comply could lead to disqualification from the race. According to Comelec Resolution No. 11086, all forms of prohibited election propaganda must be removed at least 72 hours before the campaign period starts. For the upcoming elections, the campaign period for senators and party-list representatives is set from February 11 to May 10, while local candidates can campaign from March 28 to May 10. Garcia expressed his frustration with the early appearance of campaign materials, noting that such premature campaigning is offensive to the public. However, he also acknowledged the limitations imposed by the Election Automation Law, which only considers individuals as candidates once the campaign period officially begins, thus complicating enforcement against premature campaigning.