AN ELECTION official said that the campaign rules and regulations with respect to the 2019 mid-term polls will only apply on all candidates at the start of the campaign period.

Lawyer Stephen Roy Cañete, District 1 election officer, said the campaign period for national candidates will start on February 12 until May 11, 2019, while the campaign period for the local candidates is set for March 29 to May 11, 2019.

“Prior to these periods, we have no regulations regarding to campaign,” Cañete said.

“Thus, there is no violation for local candidates making their presence felt in all barangay assemblies in the city,” he added.

Cañete said they cannot restrain yet--not before the campaign period--any candidates from doing whatever programs and activities that would advance their aspirations for the coming elections.

He said the election period, with respect to the election ban and gun ban, will start on January 13 to June 12, 2019. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)