The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged artists and musicians on Monday, March 31, to file formal complaints against those who use their songs in their campaign without their permission.
This was after OPM band Lola Amour shared on Facebook that there were a lot of candidates who are using their song in campaign jingles.
"Please note that all of those are used without our consent," the band said.
In a message to reporters, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia hopes that the band files a formal complaint.
"Sana po may formal na complaint na maihain sa atin ang banda. Maging basehan ng action namin (I hope the band files a formal complaint with us. This will be a basis for our action)," Garcia said.
In a separate interview, Garcia said that using songs without permission is unfair to Filipino artists since it's their intellectual property. He said that they would coordinate with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines once a complaint has been filed with them.
The poll chief has been urging candidates who use other artists' songs in their campaign jingles to ask for permission.
Recently, Filipino rapper Omar Baliw, real name Omar Manzano, took to social media to call out senatorial candidate Apollo Quiboloy, for using his popular song “K&B” during a political sortie.
Manzano has since filed a copyright infringement complaint against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Quiboloy and SMNI President Marlon Rosete before the Pasig Regional Trial Court.