MANILA: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will impose a new requirement for the election campaign in next year’s midterm polls.

In a statement Friday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia has proposed the submission of the latest photos of poll bets to be used in their campaign posters.

These photos must be taken within six months before the filing of candidacies, according to Garcia.

‘Non compliance will merit the declaration that these are illegal campaign materials carrying with it appropriate sanctions against the candidate/s. Take note and very important, this is not a requirement for the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC), (which require passport size photographs of candidates) but a requirement for the conduct of the campaign,’ he added.

The campaign period for national bets, or those who will run for senatorial and party-list posts will be from Feb. 11 to May 10, 2025 or 90 days before the polls.

On the other hand, the 45-day campaign period for local bets will begin on March 28 unti
l May 10, 2025.

The filing of COC is set from Oct. 1 to 8.

In a related development, Garcia has also recommended to the Commission en banc the creation of a committee that will ensure the campaign period would be environment-friendly.

”This committee shall also be guided by the current environmental laws, rules, and regulations as well as the current best practices in terms of environmental sustainability in elections and the recommendations of environmental groups and election stakeholders,’ Garcia added.

He noted that the committee would hold public consultations and expected to draft the policy guidelines concerning the matter for approval by the Commission en banc.

Source: Philippines News Agency