The ‘official’ campaign season

THE “official” campaign season has recently started for those seeking national elective positions like senators and those seeking seats in the House of Representatives through the backdoor, the party-list representations.

Some may be wondering why it was only last

February 12, 2019 that the campaign period for those who wanted to be senators and those who wanted to be representatives through the party-list system commenced when it truth and in fact, some have even “started” as early as last year.

While technically it is not campaigning per se to be on giant billboards, political ads, in newspapers, on the internet, in movies and telenovelas per se, a number of our present wannabes, re-electionists or never-beens have already started their campaign activities although informally.

Of course, the early bird catches the worm as the saying goes. Those who started it out early, whether intentional or otherwise, have the advantage of being popular and known, thus a little more mileage to be remembered during the polling day.

It can be observed that billboards, political ads and other “campaign” materials of politicians have now transformed when the word “vote” has been added to these. Since campaigning is now official for them, they can now start the wooing with the word vote as they point out to the candidate wanting to be voted by the electorates.

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This early, the Commission on Elections

(Comelec) has already noted some violations of political candidates, national and local alike, particularly on the size of their tarpaulins and where they posted them.

Many are too big for the size the poll body has authorized and many have been posted or hanged outside common posters and in public places where campaigning policies are violated.

Political candidates can always blame their henchmen or supporters, but they can also instruct them not to be indiscriminate in posting, hanging or pasting election campaign materials that shall morph later on into trash.

The Comelec has not yet removed the said materials. However, it has documented them to be considered as evidence later on should someone file his complaint or the poll body itself initiate disqualification moves versus those violating campaign rules.

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It is now the season of junior-senior proms in schools. Although some academic institutions do not have them, many are having it. Sadly, some schools allowed political aspirants join the celebration of students in the ceremonial turning-over of responsibilities of seniors to juniors. Even such kind of school activity is not spared from the campaign, official or not.

In a few weeks from now, students will soon finish their schooling for the summer break. For the graduating students, they will have their graduation ceremonies on stage and this gathers large crowds and voters. Again, this is a great opportunity to campaign.

The Comelec has warned aspirants not to join graduation ceremonies or may have to face consequences./sunstar Pampanga