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Comelec to Enforce Premature Campaigning Ban on Celebrities for 2025 Elections


Manila – In a significant move to ensure fairness in the upcoming May 2025 midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced a ban on premature campaigning, extending this prohibition to celebrities seeking public office.



According to Philippines News Agency, during a media briefing on Friday, the election watchdog will implement strict rules against premature campaigning for those filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) this October, treating them immediately as candidates subject to campaign regulations.



Garcia emphasized that the prohibitions would apply universally, without exceptions for movie and television personalities. This stance is a continuation of the Commission’s efforts to maintain the integrity and fairness of the electoral process, aiming to prevent any form of undue advantage gained through media exposure before the official campaign period.



The Comelec chair expressed hope that this policy would not face legal challenges, recalling the smooth implementation of similar regulations during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), where no objections were raised against the Commission’s directives. Garcia’s remarks underscore a firm commitment to uphold the Poll Automation Law, which stipulates that individuals who file their COCs will be considered as candidates only at the start of the campaign period, with all related unlawful acts being enforceable from that point forward.

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