IN THE past couple of months we saw banners and tarpaulins of politicians and 2019 National and Local Election hopefuls plastered or hanged in different locations in the city.
These sort of early campaign, whether they deny it or not, did not sit well with many of us. For one, it may come as unappealing. The early campaigning of some feels like it’s too forced. It would feel to some like shoving unwanted food down their throats.
According to Commission on Elections (Comelec)'s Resolution 10429, which was promulgated on October 1, 2018, campaign period for candidates for Senator and party-list groups will begin on February 12, 2019 while the campaign period for those running for Congress and local government unit posts is set to start on March 29, 2019. Campaign period for those who are running for elective posts ends on May 11, 2019.
However, according to Comelec there are no rules prohibiting politicians and election hopefuls from campaigning early.
"Prior to these periods, we have no regulations regarding to campaign... Thus, there is no violation for local candidates making their presence felt in all barangay assemblies in the city," lawyer Stephen Roy Cañete, Comelec election officer, said in a previous report by SunStar Philippines.
In a report by Philippine Star, former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said a 2009 ruling by the Supreme Court that "effectively removed the rule on premature campaigning and allowed candidates to campaign ahead of the prescribed period under the Omnibus Election Code."
Whether we like it or not, we cannot tell those running for elective posts in the upcoming 2019 Local and National Elections to stop with their early campaigns. They clearly want to get the votes from the masses with the hopes to be a lawmaker or a local chief executive. They clearly have the right to do so. A sad sight but it is the reality of our political scene.
Before the actual campaign period begins and before they start presenting promises and platforms, let us use the time being to do a background check of the hopefuls for the 2019 National and Local elections. At least we will know who is most likely to stick with their promises and platforms once elected and who will most likely be an "epal".