Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia made four announcements when he led a breakout session at the Third National Conference on Investigative Journalism on April 30.
The Comelec is in the thick of preparations for the May 12, 2025 Philippine midterm elections. A number of innovations have been introduced including the 1) use of new vote counting machines that will be produced by South Korean company Miru , 2) introduction of online voting for overseas voters, and 3) use of malls as voting precincts after successful pilot tests during last year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) Elections.
Garcia announced more innovations at the PCIJ conference.
1. COMELEC WILL PROHIBIT PREMATURE CAMPAIGNING BEGINNING OCTOBER 2024
He said that the premature campaigning ban will take effect as soon as the aspirants file their Certificates of Candidacies (COCs) in October this year. Election watchdogs said this will prevent moneyed candidates from skirting the country’s spending limits.
“I would like to announce that for the coming elections, we will presume all those who will file their candidacies by October 1 to 8 as candidates already. And therefore, [we will] apply [laws on] premature campaigning,” Garcia said during the PCIJ conference.
“If they want to go to the Supreme Court, then so be it,” he said.
If they want to go to the Supreme Court, then so be it.
comelec chair george garcia
The ban on premature campaigning was previously imposed only during the official campaign period or 90 days from the months of February to May during the election year for national candidates and 45 days for local candidates.
“Isipin nyo mula October, November, December, January, inutil ang Comelec. Hindi kami pwedeng manghuli. Hindi kami pwedeng magtanggal ang posters,” said Garcia.
Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits candidates from campaigning or engaging in partisan political activity outside of the campaign period. Violators face potential disqualification from the elections and imprisonment.
But a 2009 Supreme Court ruling widely criticized by election watchdogs said elective aspirants only become “candidates” once the official campaign period starts.
Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) executive director Rona Ann Caritos said her group supports the interpretation of the Comelec.
‘Yung window — October to January — parang all out diyan talaga lumalabas ang paggastos ng mga kanditao natin. Diyan talaga lumalayo ang laban ng mga may pera at walang pera.
lente executive director rona ann caritos
“We do understand the limitations under the legal framework, and there is a decided case. But for the longest time kasi, yung sinasabi ni chair na ‘yung window — October to January — na parang all out diyan talaga lumalabas ang paggastos ng mga kanditao natin. Diyan talaga lumalayo ang laban ng mga may pera at walang pera,” Caritos said.
“It’s high time Comelec does something about it. If it’s challenged before the Supreme Court, then so be it,” said Caritos.
Former Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia urged journalists to highlight in their reporting that the Comelec’s “courageous” initiative was forced by loopholes in the country’s election law.
“When we report it, let’s emphasize the reason why there is that kind of problem. It is because there is a problem in the law,” he said.
Guia said the public should understand that it is ultimately the responsibility of Congress to fix the legal loophole. “The responsibility for a sound legal framework rests in Congress,” he said. “Pero pinili ng Congress na i-exempt ang sarili nila.”
2. COMELEC WILL OPEN SPECIAL VOTING PRECINCTS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, PWDS, AND ‘HEAVILY’ PREGNANT WOMEN
Garcia said there will be special polling precincts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and “heavily pregnant” women. It will open for two hours — from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. — on election day.
There is a pending bill in Congress allowing early voting for these voters, similar to the accommodations given to security officers and the media who vote days before election day. The measure remains in the committee level, however.
This innovation follows pilot tests in the cities of Naga and Muntinlupa during last year’s BSK Elections.
“At least po hindi sila kasabay na bumoto ng mga regular voters. At least po hindi sila maiinitan ng sobrang init ng araw or kaya maulanan kung sakali pong uulan sa panahon ng botohan natin,” he said.
3. COMELEC IN TALKS WITH DBM FOR P2,000 ACROSS-THE-BOARD ADDITIONAL HONORARIA FOR TEACHERS
Garcia also announced discussions with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to give P2,000 across-the-board additional honoraria for teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors.
“Pinaglaban namin sa DBM kahapon, na dapat magdagdag ng additional P2,000 across the board sa lahat ng teachers. Kasi nga magse-serve sila mula alas singko ng madaling araw,” said Garcia.
“Sabi namin, ipaglalaban namin at all cost yan. Ang across the board na ‘yan sa lahat ng teachers,” he said.
4. COMELEC SAYS IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY UPLOAD DIGITAL COPIES OF SOCES AFTER 2025 MIDTERM POLLS
Garcia also announced that the Comelec will immediately make available digital copies of statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs) when candidates file the documents a month after the midterm elections.
“Hindi na po kayo mahihirapang manghingi,” he told the audience composed mostly of journalists, who applauded the announcement.
The SOCES will be “redacted” to make sure it will not violate the country’s data privacy law.
“When they submit there is that commitment supposedly that it should be made public. In the final analysis, public documents naman yan,” said Garcia.
“These are some of the innovations — so many innovations — that we in the Comelec are practically doing. Ang kailangan lang namin ay suporta ng lahat (What we need now is the support of everyone ),” Garcia said. — Carmela Fonbuena, PCIJ.org
