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Malacañang reminded the local candidates on Friday to ‘follow the law’ as their campaign period for the 2025 midterm elections begins.
“Ang paalala lang po natin sa lahat ng mga kakandidato – huwag lumabag sa batas. Unang-una kasi kayo po ‘yung magsisilbing lider, so dapat kayo po ‘yung manguna na sumusunod sa batas,” Palace Press Officer Usec. Atty. Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
She also warned security forces to ‘remain apolitical’ and ‘not allow themselves to be used by politicians.’
“It should remain apolitical, so huwag magpapagamit. Tama po, huwag magpagamit sa politiko, huwag magpagamit sa damdamin. Alamin nila, tandaan nila na ang kanilang trabaho ay manatiling… loyal sa bansa, loyal sa Konstitusyon,” Castro told the media.
When asked if the Palace encourages house-to-house campaigning despite high temperatures, she said they would leave the decision to the local candidates and reminded them to ‘stay hydrated.’
“Siguro naman po alam na nila kung papaano ba alagaan ang sarili nila at alagaan na rin ‘yung mga constituents nila. So ipapaubaya po natin sa kanila ang desisyon na ‘yan, but muli pinapaalala ng DOH [Department of Health] na mag-ingat, uminom palagi, pumunta sa malilim na lugar, at ingat,” the press officer stated.
She also affirmed the full implementation of the Penera doctrine during the local campaign period.
“Alam naman natin [na] itong doctrine na ito [ay] sinasabing na walang premature campaigning until dumating ‘yung campaign period,” Castro said.
The Penera doctrine came from the landmark case of Rosalinda A. Penera v. Commission on Elections (Comelec) wherein the Supreme Court (SC) declared that “a candidate is only liable for election offenses only upon the start of the campaign period.”
The Comelec conceded prior to the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) that while premature campaigning is a “pernicious act”, there is no law that punishes it.
‘Oplan Baklas’
The Comelec also launched its ‘Oplan Baklas’ against illegal campaign materials as the local campaign period begins.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said on Friday that they’ve waited a long time for this operation as they couldn’t remove the materials as they were still aspirants until 12:01 a.m., where they have been officially declared as candidates.
“Matagal na namin ‘tong hinihintay, matagal na rin kaming nagngingitngit dahil nga siyempre hindi kami makapagtanggal dahil hindi pa sila kandidato — aspirants pa lang sila before…ngayon officially kandidato sila simula 12:01 kaninang madaling araw,” the chairman said.
His statement also referred to the said doctrine.
Garcia reminded that campaign posters should not be any larger than 2 feet by 3 feet and “must be made with eco-friendly materials.”
Comelec Resolution No. 11086, which sets the rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 9006 or the Fair Elections Act, scheduled the campaign period for national candidates from February 11 to May 10, 2025.
The 45-day campaign period for local candidates was scheduled from March 28 to May 10, 2025.
82 provincial governorships and vice governorships, 792 provincial board members positions, 149 mayorships and vice mayorships, 1,682 city councilor posts, 1,493 municipal mayorships and vice mayorships, 11,948 municipal councilor positions, and 254 seats in the House of Representatives’ congressional districts are up to the taking.
