An official from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, Oct. 2, said Certificates of Candidacy (COC) filers who will engage in early campaigning cannot be sanctioned yet by the poll body.
"No prohibitions yet for those who filed COC. They remain aspirants and not yet considered candidates," Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a tweet.
Guanzon noted that election law only recognizes an individual as a candidate at the start of the campaign period, not at the filing of the COC.
" are covered by Comelec rules on campaigning only at the start of campaign period."
The Poll Automation Law states that "any person who files his certificate of candidacy shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period" and that "unlawful acts applicable to a candidate shall be in effect only upon that start of campaign period."
However, Comelec urged COC filers not to engage in early campaigning.
The Comelec has set the filing of COC for the May 2022 national elections from Oct. 1 to 8.
The campaign period, meanwhile, will not start until Feb. 8 for national candidates and March 25 for local candidates.