Comelec to ban premature campaigning in 2025
SAYING that it does not want a repeat of the Maguindanao Massacre, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has vowed to use its full power and constitutional authority to ensure that the 2025 polls will be clean, honest and peaceful.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia called on all prospective candidates in 2025 to follow all election laws, particularly the law against premature campaigning, warning that the commission will not only file cases against violators but stop them from being proclaimed if they win.
The massacre took place in November 2009 during the period for filing the certificate of candidacy (CoC).
Fifty-eight people, including 34 journalists, were kidnapped and killed by heavily armed men led by then Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. while on their way to Shariff Aguak to file the CoC for Esmael Mangudadatu, who was running for governor of the then undivided Maguindanao.
To prevent a similar incident in 2025, Garcia said the Comelec will again strictly enforce the ban on premature campaigning despite a Supreme Court ruling against it.
“How can you prevent it? We cannot even set up a checkpoint [because Comelec has no jurisdiction yet on candidates during the filing of CoC],” he said.
In Penera v. Comelec, the Supreme Court reversed its decision, which disqualified Sta. Monica, Surigao del Norte, Mayor Rosalinda Penera as a candidate in the 2007 elections for violating Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits premature campaigning.
Because of the court decision, those who filed their CoC could only be considered as candidates at the start of the campaign season, which is February for national candidates and March for local bets.
Garcia said the Comelec will again ban premature campaigning, just like it did during the October 2023 village and youth polls.
During that time, the commission suspended the proclamation of 53 candidates and issued show-cause orders to 7,500 other candidates accused of premature campaigning.
He said premature campaigning could also lead to vote buying and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
“We will not allow it. Comelec doesn’t like to be inutile from the filing of the certificate of candidacy in October up to the start of the campaign season in February for national candidates and March for local candidates,” Garcia said.
He said Comelec would not seek clarification from the Supreme Court on its ruling but added that the commission would respect the decision of the Court if somebody ever files a case.