Comelec requires bets to submit pictures for campaign materials

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced a new requirement for those running in next year’s midterm elections.

In a statement, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said he has recommended that candidates must submit pictures to be used in their campaign materials.

“I proposed to include in the General Instructions for the Fair Elections Act implementation intended for the  2025 national and local elections, to require all candidates to submit to the offices where they are filing candidacies their photographs/ pictures that will be used in campaign materials,” Garcia said.

The Comelec chief said these photos of candidates must be taken within six months prior to the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Photos that were not submitted but used in the campaign are considered unlawful materials, he said.  

“Non-compliance will merit the declaration that these are illegal campaign materials carrying with it appropriate sanctions against the candidates,” Garcia added.

“This is not a requirement for the filing of certificates of candidacy or COC (which require passport size photographs of candidates) but a requirement for the conduct of the campaign,” he stressed.

The campaign period for national candidates or those who will run for senatorial and party-list posts will run from Feb. 11 until May 10, 2025.

Meanwhile, the campaign period for local bets will be from March 28 until May 10, 2025.

The filing of COC is from Oct. 1 to 8.