Election period

Article IX(C), SECTION 9. Unless otherwise fixed by the Commission in special cases, the
election period shall commence ninety days before the day of the election and shall end
thirty days after.
Omnibus Election Code, Sec. 3. Election and campaign periods. - Unless otherwise fixed
in special cases by the Commission on Elections, which hereinafter shall be referred to as
the Commission, the election period shall commence ninety days before the day of the
election and shall end thirty days thereafter.
The period of campaign shall be as follows:
1. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election - 90 days;
2. Election of Members of the Batasang Pambansa and Local Election - 45
days; and
3. Barangay Election - 15 days.
The campaign periods shall not include the day before and the day of the election.
However, in case of special elections under Article VIII, Section 5, Subsection (2) of the
Constitution, the campaign period shall be forty-five days.
RA 7166, Sec. 5. Election and Campaign Period. - Unless otherwise fixed by the
Commission, the election period for the May 11, 1992 regular elections shall commence
ninety (90) days before the day of the election and shall end thirty (30) days thereafter.
The campaign periods are hereby fixed as follows:
a. For President, Vice-President and Senators, ninety (90) days before the day of the
election; and
b. For Members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and
municipal officials, forty-five (45) days before the day of the election.
However, in the preparation of the election calendar, the Commission may exclude the
day before the day of the election itself, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Any election campaign or partisan political activity for or against any candidate outside
of the campaign period herein provided is prohibited and shall be considered as an
election offense punishable under Section 263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code.
Election offenses, enumerated.
(1) Prohibited acts during election period.
Vote-buying and vote-selling.
a. Vote-buying and vote-selling.
1. Any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value,
gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or
private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or
cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation,
entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to
vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to
vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate
in a convention or similar selection process of a political party.

2. Any person, association, corporation, group or community who solicits or

receives, directly or indirectly, any expenditure or promise of any office or
employment, public or private, for any of the foregoing considerations.
Appointment of new employees, creation of new position, promotion or giving
salary increases.
Ong vs. Martinez
Ong and Martinez were contesting each others appointment to the position of City
Councilor of Manila after it was vacated by reason of Saturnino Herreras death. They
both invoke the election ban on appointments.
Sec. 261 (g) of the Omnibus Election Code provides thus:
"(g) Appointment of new employees, creation of new position, promotion,
or giving salary increases. During the period of forty-five days before a
regular election and thirty days before a special election, (1) any head,
official or appointing officer of a government office, agency or
instrumentality, whether national or local, including government-owned
or controlled corporations, who appoints or hires any new
employee whether provisional, temporary or casual, or creates and fills
any new position, except upon prior authority of the Commission. The
Commission shall not grant the authority sought unless, it is satisfied
that the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the
office or agency concerned, and that the position shall not be filled in a
manner that may influence the election.
"As an exception to the foregoing provisions, a new employee may be
appointed in case of urgent need: Provided, however, That notice of the
appointment shall be given to the Commission within three days from the
date of the appointment. Any appointment or hiring in violation of this
provision shall be null and void."
The aforequoted provision does not apply to both assailed appointments because of the
following reason:
**The permanent vacancy for councilor exists and its filling up is governed by
the Local Government Code while the appointment referred to in the election ban
provision is covered by the Civil Service Law.
Hence, the appointment of Martinez is valid since it is not covered under the election
ban.

Transfer of officers and employees in the civil service.

People vs. Reyes
Two (2) elements must be established to prove a violation of Section 261 (h) of B.P. Blg.
881, viz: (1) The fact of transfer or detail of a public officer or employee within the
election period as fixed by the COMELEC, and (2) the transfer or detail was effected
without prior approval of the COMELEC in accordance with its implementing rules and
regulations.|||
Respondent Maniego transferred Ebio, then the Customs Operation Chief, MICP to the
Office of the Deputy Collector of Customs for Operations as Special Assistant on January
14, 1992. On this date, January 14, 1992, the election period for the May 11, 1992

synchronized elections had already been fixed to commence January 12, 1992 until June
10, 1992.|||
**Before the effectivity of these rules, it cannot be said that Section 261 (h) of B.P. Blg.
881, a penal provision, was already enforceable. Needless to state, respondent Maniego
could not be charged with failing to secure the approval of the COMELEC when he
transferred Ebio on January 14, 1992 as on that day, the rules of the COMELEC on the
subject were yet inexistent.

|||

Carrying firearms outside residence or place of business

RA 7166, Sec. 32. Who May Bear Firearms. - During the election period, no person shall
bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places,
including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if
licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the
Commission. The issuance of firearms licenses shall be suspended during the election
period.
Only regular members or officers of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and other enforcement agencies of the Government who are duly
deputized in writing by the Commission for election duty may be authorized to carry and
possess firearms during the election period: Provided, That, when in the possession of
firearms, the deputized law enforcement officer must be:
a. in full uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial number
which shall remain visible at all times; and
b. in the actual performance of his election duty in the specific area designated
by the Commission.
Ban on security personnel and bodyguards
Ra 7166, Section 33. Security Personnel and Bodyguards. - During the election period,
no candidate for public office, including incumbent public officers seeking election to any
public office, shall employ, avail himself of or engage the services of security
personnel or bodyguards, whether or not such bodyguards are regular members or
officers of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines or other law
enforcement agency of the Government: Provided, That, when circumstances
warrant, including but not limited to threats to life and security of a candidate,
he may be assigned by the Commission, upon due application, regular members of
the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines or other law
enforcement agency who shall provide him security for the duration of the election
period. The officers assigned for security duty to a candidate shall be subject to the same
requirement as to wearing of uniforms prescribed in the immediately preceding
section unless exempted in writing by the Commission.
If at any time during the election period, the ground for which the authority to engage
the services of security personnel has been granted shall cease to exist of for any other
valid cause, the Commission shall revoke the said authority.
Prohibition against release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds.
Jurisdiction of the RTC to try cases involving election offenses; RTC has no jurisdiction.
The COMELEC has exclusive charge of the enforcement and administration of all laws

relative to the conduct of elections and to exercise of all other functions which may be
conferred by law.
Nevertheless, it must be strongly emphasized that in so holding that the trial court has
no jurisdiction over the subject matter of Special Civil Action No. 465, We are not to be
understood as approving of the acts complained of by the private respondent. If his
charges for the violation of paragraphs (a), (b), (v) and (w), Section 261 of the Omnibus
Election Code are true, then no one should be spared from the full force of the law. No
government official should flout laws designed to ensure the holding of free, orderly,
honest, peaceful and credible elections or make a mockery of our electoral processes.
The bitter lessons of the past have shown that only elections of that nature or character
can guarantee a peaceful and orderly change. It is then his duty to respect, preserve and
enhance an institution which is vital in any democratic society.
Suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer.
Sec. 27. Election Offenses. - In addition to the prohibited acts and election offenses
enumerated in Sections 261 and 262 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, as amended, the
following shall be guilty of an election offense:
a. Any person who causes the printing of official ballots and election returns by any
printing establishment which is not under contract with the Commission on
Elections and any printing establishment which undertakes such unauthorized
printing.
b. Any member of the board of election inspectors or board of canvassers who
tampers, increases, or decreases the votes received by a candidate in any
election or any member of the board who refuses, after proper verification and
hearing, to credit the correct votes or deduct such tampered votes.
c. Any member of the board of election inspectors who refuses to issue to duly
accredited watchers the certificate of votes provided in Section 16 hereof.
d. Any person who violates Section 11 hereof regarding prohibited forms of election
propaganda.
e. Any chairman of the board of canvassers who fails to give notice of meetings to
other members of the board, candidate or political party as required
under Section 23 hereof.
f.

Any person declared a nuisance candidate as defined under Section 69 of Batas

Pambansa Blg. 881, or is otherwise disqualified, by final and executory judgment,
who continues to misrepresent himself, or holds himself out, as a candidate, such
as by continuing to campaign thereafter, and/or other public officer or private
individual, who knowingly induces or abets such misrepresentation, by
commission or omission, shall be guilty of an election offense and subject to the
penalty provided in Section 264 of the same Code.

Sec. 36. Corporate powers and capacity. - Every corporation incorporated under this Code
has the power and capacity:
xxx
9. To make reasonable donations, including those for the public welfare or for hospital,
charitable, cultural, scientific, civic, or similar purposes: Provided, That no corporation,

domestic or foreign, shall give donations in aid of any political party or candidate or for
purposes of partisan political activity;
(2)Prohibited acts during registration of voters.
On Registration of Voters:
1. Any person who, having all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications of a
voter, fails without justifiable excuse to register as a voter in an election,
plebiscite or referendum in which he is qualified to vote.
2. Any person who knowingly makes any false or untruthful statement relative
to any of the data or information required in the application for registration.
3. Any person who deliberately imprints or causes the imprinting of blurred
or indistinct fingerprints on any of the copies of the application for registration
or on the voter's affidavit; or any person in charge of the registration of voters
who deliberately or through negligence, causes or allows the imprinting of blurred
or indistinct fingerprints on any of the aforementioned registration forms, or any
person who tampers with the fingerprints in said registration records.
4. Any member of the board of election inspectors who approves any
application which on its face shows that the applicant does not possess
all the qualifications prescribed by law for a voter; or who disapproves any
application which on its face shows that the applicant possesses all such
qualifications.
5. Any person who, being a registered voter, registers anew without filing an
application for cancellation of his previous registration.
6. Any person who registers in substitution for another whether with or without
the latter's knowledge or consent.
7. Any person who tampers with or changes without authority any data or
entry in any voter's application for registration.
8. Any person who delays, hinders or obstruct another from registering.
9. Any person who falsely certifies or identifies another as a bona fide
resident of a particular place or locality for the purpose of securing the latter's
registration as a voter.
10. Any person who uses the voter's affidavit of another for the purpose of
voting, whether or not he actually succeeds in voting.
11. Any person who places, inserts or otherwise includes, as approved
application for registration in the book of voters or in the provincial or
national central files of registered voters, the application of any fictitious voter
or any application that has not been approved; or removes from, or
otherwise takes out of the book of voters or the provincial or national central files
of registered voters any duly approved voter's application, except upon lawful
order of the Commission, or of a competent court or after proper cancellation as
provided in Sections 122, 123, 124 and 125 hereof.
12. Any person who transfers or causes the transfer of the registration record
of a voter to the book of voters of another polling place, unless said

transfer was due to a change of address of the voter and the voter was duly
notified of his new polling place.
13. Any person who asks, demands, takes, accepts or possesses, directly or
indirectly, the voter's affidavit of another, in order to induce the latter to
withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate in an election
or any issue in a plebiscite or referendum. It shall be presumed prima facie
that the asking, demanding, taking, accepting, or possessing is with such intent if
done within the period beginning ten days before election day and ending ten
days after election day, unless the voter's affidavit of another and the latter are
both members of the same family.
14. Any person who delivers, hands over, entrusts, gives, directly or
indirectly his voter's affidavit to another in consideration of money or
other benefit or promises thereof, or takes or accepts such voter's affidavit
directly or indirectly, by giving or causing the giving of money or other benefit or
making or causing the making of a promise thereof.
15. Any person who alters in any manner, tears, defaces, removes or destroys
any certified list of voters.
16. Any person who takes, carries or possesses any blank or unused
registration form already issued to a city or municipality outside of said city or
municipality except as otherwise provided in this Code or when directed by
express order of the court or of the Commission.
17. Any person who maliciously omits, tampers or transfers to another list the
name of a registered voter from the official list of voters posted outside
the polling place.
RA 8189, Sec. 45. Election Offenses. - The following shall be considered election
offenses under this Act
a. to deliver, hand over, entrust or give, directly or indirectly, his voter's
identification card to another in consideration of money or other benefit of
promise; or take or accept such voter's identification card, directly or indirectly, by
giving or causing the giving or money or other benefit or making or causing the
making of a promise therefore;
b. to fail, without cause, to post or give any of the notices or to make any of the
reports re-acquired under this Act;
c. to issue or cause the issuance of a voter's identification number or to cancel or
cause the cancellation thereof in violation of the provisions of this Act; or to refuse
the issuance of registered voters their voter's identification card;
d. to accept an appointment, to assume office and to actually serve as a member of
the Election Registration Board although ineligible thereto, to appoint such
ineligible person knowing him to be ineligible;
e. to interfere with, impede, abscond for purpose of gain or to prevent the
installation or use of computers and devices and the processing, storage,
generation, and transmission of registration data or information;

f.

to gain, cause access to use, alter, destroy, or disclose any computer data,
program, system software, network, or any computer-related devices, facilities,
hardware or equipment, whether classified or declassified;

g. failure to provide certified voters and deactivated voters list to candidates and
heads of representatives of political parties upon written request as provided in
Section 30 hereof;
h. failure to include the approved application form for registration of a qualified voter
in the book of voters of a particular precinct or the omission of the name of a duly
registered voter in the certified list of voters of the precinct where he is duly,
registered resulting in his failure to cast his vote during an election, plebiscite,
referendum, initiative and/or recall. The presence of the form or name in the book
of voters or certified list of voters in precincts other than where he is duly
registered shall not be an excuse hereof;
i.

the posting of a list of voters outside or at the door of a precinct on the day of an
election, plebiscite, referendum, initiative and/or recall, and which list is different
in contents from the certified list of voters being used by the Board of Election
Inspectors; and

j.

Violation of the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 46. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of any Election offense under this Act shall
be punished with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than
six (6) years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party
shall be sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the
right of suffrage. If he is a foreigner, he shall be deported after the prison term has been
served. Any political party found guilty shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not
less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) but not more than Five
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000).
(3)Prohibited acts during voting.
On voting:
1. Any person who fails to cast his vote without justifiable excuse.
2. Any person who votes more than once in the same election, or who, not being a
registered voter, votes in an election.
3. Any person who votes in substitution for another whether with or without the
latter's knowledge and/or consent.
4. Any person who, not being illiterate or physically disabled, allows his ballot to be
prepared by another, or any person who prepares the ballot of another who is not
illiterate or physically disabled, with or without the latter's knowledge and/or
consent.
5. Any person who avails himself of any means of scheme to discover the contents
of the ballot of a voter who is preparing or casting his vote or who has just voted.
6. Any voter who, in the course of voting, uses a ballot other than the one given by
the board of election inspectors or has in his possession more than one official
ballot.

7. Any person who places under arrest or detains a voter without lawful cause, or
molests him in such a manner as to obstruct or prevent him from going to the
polling place to cast his vote or from returning home after casting his vote, or to
compel him to reveal how he voted.
8. Any member of the board of election inspectors charged with the duty of reading
the ballot during the counting of votes who deliberately omits to read the vote
duly written on the ballot, or misreads the vote actually written thereon or reads
the name of a candidate where no name is written on the ballot.
9. Any member of the board of election inspectors charged with the duty of tallying
the votes in the tally board or sheet, election returns or other prescribed form who
deliberately fails to record a vote therein or records erroneously the votes as read,
or records a vote where no such vote has been read by the chairman.
10. Any member of a board of election inspectors who has made possible the casting
of more votes than there are registered voters.
11. Any person who, for the purpose of disrupting or obstructing the election process
or causing confusion among the voters, propagates false and alarming reports or
information or transmits or circulates false orders, directives or messages
regarding any matter relating to the printing of official ballots, the postponement
of the election, the transfer of polling place or the general conduct of the election.
12. Any person who, without legal authority, destroys, substitutes or takes away from
the possession of those having legal custody thereof, or from the place where
they are legally deposited, any election form or document or ballot box which
contains official ballots or other documents used in the election.
13. Any person having legal custody of the ballot box containing the official ballots
used in the election who opens or destroys said box or removes or destroys its
contents without or against the order of the Commission or who, through his
negligence, enables any person to commit any of the aforementioned acts, or
takes away said ballot box from his custody.
14. Any member of the board of election inspectors who knowingly uses ballots other
than the official ballots, except in those cases where the use of emergency ballots
is authorized.
15. Any public official who neglects or fails to properly preserve or account for any
ballot box, documents and forms received by him and kept under his custody.
16. Any person who reveals the contents of the ballot of an illiterate or disabled voter
whom he assisted in preparing a ballot.
17. Any person who, without authority, transfers the location of a polling place.
18. Any person who, without authority, prints or causes the printing of any ballot or
election returns that appears as official ballots or election returns or who
distributes or causes the same to be distributed for use in the election, whether or
not they are actually used.
19. Any person who, without authority, keeps, uses or carries out or causes to be
kept, used or carried out, any official ballot or election returns or printed proof
thereof, type-form mould, electro-type printing plates and any other plate,

numbering machines and other printing paraphernalia being used in connection

with the printing of official ballots or election returns.
20. Any official or employee of any printing establishment or of the Commission or
any member of the committee in charge of the printing of official ballots or
election returns who causes official ballots or election returns to be printed in
quantities exceeding those authorized by the Commission or who distributes,
delivers, or in any manner disposes of or causes to be distributed, delivered, or
disposed of, any official ballot or election returns to any person or persons not
authorized by law or by the Commission to receive or keep official ballots or
election returns or who sends or causes them to be sent to any place not
designated by law or by the Commission.
21. Any person who, through any act, means or device, violates the integrity of any
official ballot or election returns before or after they are used in the election.
22. Any person who removes, tears, defaces or destroys any certified list of
candidates posted inside the voting booths during the hours of voting.
23. Any person who holds or causes the holding of an election on any other day than
that fixed by law or by the Commission, or stops any election being legally held.
24. Any person who deliberately blurs his fingerprint in the voting record.
bb. Common to all boards of election inspectors and boards of canvassers:
1. Any member of any board of election inspectors or board of canvassers
who deliberately absents himself from the meetings of said body for the
purpose of obstructing or delaying the performance of its duties or
functions.
2. Any member of any board of election inspectors or board of canvassers
who, without justifiable reason, refuses to sign and certify any election
form required by this Code or prescribed by the Commission although he
was present during the meeting of the said body.
3. Any person who, being ineligible for appointment as member of any board
of election inspectors or board of canvassers, accepts an appointment to
said body, assumes office, and actually serves as a member thereof, or
any of public officer or any person acting in his behalf who appoints such
ineligible person knowing him to be ineligible.
4. Any person who, in the presence or within the hearing of any board of
election inspectors or board of canvassers during any of its meetings,
conducts himself in such a disorderly manner as to interrupt or disrupt the
work or proceedings to the end of preventing said body from performing its
functions, either partly or totally.
5. Any public official or person acting in his behalf who relieves any member
of any board of election inspectors or board of canvassers or who changes
or causes the change of the assignments of any member of said board of
election inspectors or board of canvassers without authority of the
Commission.
Bagumbayan VNP Movement Inc. vs. COMELEC

It is true that the Commission on Elections is given ample discretion to administer

the elections, but certainly, its constitutional duty is to "enforce the law."||
The Commission on Elections cannot opt to breach the requirements of the law to
assuage its fears regarding the VVPAT. Vote-buying can be averted by placing proper
procedures. The Commission on Elections has the power to choose the appropriate
procedure in order to enforce the VVPAT requirement under the law, and balance it with
the constitutional mandate to secure the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot.|
The credibility of the results of any election depends, to a large extent, on the confidence
of each voter that his or her individual choices have actually been counted. It is in that
local precinct after the voter casts his or her ballot that this confidence starts. It is there
where it will be possible for the voter to believe that his or her participation as sovereign
truly counts.|
(4)Prohibited acts during canvassing.
On Canvassing:
1. Any chairman of the board of canvassers who fails to give due notice of the
date, time and place of the meeting of said board to the candidates,
political parties and/or members of the board.
2. Any member of the board of canvassers who proceeds with the canvass of the
votes and/or proclamation of any candidate which was suspended or
annulled by the Commission.
3. Any member of the board of canvassers who proceeds with the canvass of votes
and/or proclamation of any candidate in the absence of quorum, or without
giving due notice of the date, time and place of the meeting of the board to the
candidates, political parties, and/or other members of the board.
4. Any member of the board of canvassers who, without authority of the
Commission, uses in the canvass of votes and/or proclamation of any
candidate any document other than the official copy of the election returns.

(5)Prohibited acts on candidacy and campaign.

1. Any political party which holds political conventions or meetings to nominate
its official candidates earlier that the period fixed in this Code.
2. Any person who abstracts, destroys or cancels any certificate of candidacy
duly filed and which has not been cancelled upon order of the Commission.
3. Any person who misleads the board of election inspectors by submitting any
false or spurious certificate of candidacy or document to the prejudice of
a candidate.
4. Any person who, being authorized to receive certificates of candidacy,
receives any certificate of candidacy outside the period for filing the
same and makes it appear that said certificate of candidacy was filed on
time; or any person who, by means of fraud, threat, intimidation, terrorism or
coercion, causes or compels the commission of said act.
5. Any person who, by any device or means, jams, obstructs or interferes with a
radio or television broadcast of any lawful political program.

6. Any person who solicits votes or undertakes any propaganda, on the day
of election, for or against any candidate or any political party within the
polling place or within a radius of thirty meters thereof.
Campaign expenses.

(6)Other prohibitions and election offenses.

Other prohibitions:
1. Any person who sells, furnishes, offers, buys, serves or takes intoxicating
liquor on the days fixed by law for the registration of voters in the
polling place, or on the day before the election or on election day:
Provided, That hotels and other establishments duly certified by the
Ministry of Tourism as tourist oriented and habitually in the business
of catering to foreign tourists may be exempted for justifiable
reasons upon prior authority of the Commission: Provided, further,
That foreign tourists taking intoxicating liquor in said authorized hotels or
establishments are exempted from the provisions of this subparagraph.
2. Any person who opens in any polling place or within a radius of thirty
meters thereof on election day and during the counting of votes, booths
or stalls of any kind for the sale, dispensing or display of wares,
merchandise or refreshments, whether solid or liquid, or for any
other purposes.
3. Any person who holds on election day, fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse
races, jai-alai or any other similar sports.
4. Refusal to carry election mail matter. - Any operator or employee of a
public utility or transportation company operating under a certificate of
public convenience, including government-owned or controlled postal
service or its employees or deputized agents who refuse to carry
official election mail matters free of charge during the election
period. In addition to the penalty prescribed herein, such refusal shall
constitute a ground for cancellation or revocation of certificate of
public convenience or franchise.
5. Prohibition against discrimination in the sale of air time. - Any person who
operates a radio or television station who without justifiable cause
discriminates against any political party, coalition or aggroupment
of parties or any candidate in the sale of air time. In addition to the
penalty prescribed herein, such refusal shall constitute a ground for
cancellation or revocation of the franchise.

Sec. 81. Intervention of foreigners. - It shall be unlawful for any foreigner, whether
judicial or natural person, to aid any candidate or political party, directly or indirectly, or
take part in or influence in any manner any election, or to contribute or make any
expenditure in connection with any election campaign or partisan political activity.
Sec. 95. Prohibited contributions. - No contribution for purposes of partisan political
activity shall be made directly or indirectly by any of the following:

a. Public or private financial institutions: Provided, however, That nothing

herein shall prevent the making of any loan to a candidate or political party by
any such public or private financial institutions legally in the business of lending
money, and that the loan is made in accordance with laws and regulations and in
the ordinary course of business;
b. Natural and juridical persons operating a public utility or in possession of or
exploiting any natural resources of the nation;
c. Natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply
the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with
goods or services or to perform construction or other works;
d. Natural and juridical persons who have been granted franchises, incentives,
exemptions, allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government
or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, including governmentowned or controlled corporations;
e. Natural and juridical persons who, within one year prior to the date of the
election, have been granted loans or other accommodations in excess of
P100,000 by the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions or
instrumentalities including government-owned or controlled corporations;
f.

Educational institutions which have received grants of public funds

amounting to no less than P100,000.00;

g. Officials or employees in the Civil Service, or members of the Armed Forces

of the Philippines; and
h. Foreigners and foreign corporations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or receive any contribution from any of the
persons or entities enumerated herein.

Election offenses, persons criminally liable.

Sec. 263. Persons criminally liable. - The principals, accomplices, and accessories,
as defined in the Revised Penal Code, shall be criminally liable for election offenses. If the
one responsible be a political party or an entity, its president or head, the officials and
employees of the same, performing duties connected with the offense committed and its
members who may be principals, accomplices, or accessories shall be liable, in addition
to the liability of such party or entity.
Election offenses, penalties for.
Sec. 264. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of any election offense under this Code
shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than
six years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party shall be
sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of
suffrage. If he is a foreigner, he shall be sentenced to deportation which shall be enforced
after the prison term has been served. Any political party found guilty shall be sentenced
to pay a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos, which shall be imposed upon such
party after criminal action has been instituted in which their corresponding officials have
been found guilty.

In case of prisoner or prisoners illegally released from any penitentiary or jail during
the prohibited period as provided in Section 261, paragraph (n) of this Code, the director
of prisons, provincial warden, keeper of the jail or prison, or persons who are
required by law to keep said prisoner in their custody shall, if convicted by a
competent court, be sentenced to suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum
period if the prisoner or prisoners so illegally released commit any act of
intimidation, terrorism of interference in the election.
Any person found guilty of the offense of failure to register or failure to vote shall, upon
conviction, be fined one hundred pesos. In addition, he shall suffer disqualification to run
for public office in the next succeeding election following his conviction or be appointed
to a public office for a period of one year following his conviction.
RA 8189, Sec. 46. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of any Election offense under this
Act shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than
six (6) years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party shall be
sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of
suffrage. If he is a foreigner, he shall be deported after the prison term has been served.
Any political party found guilty shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000).

Electoral Sabotage.
RA 9369, SECTION 42. Section 27 (b) of Republic Act No. 6646 is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"SECTION 27. Election Offenses; Electoral Sabotage. - In additional to the prohibited acts
and election offenses enumerated in Section 261 and 262 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881,
as amended, the following shall be guilty of an election offense or a special election
offense to be known as electoral sabotage:
"(a) x x x
"(b) Any person or member of the board of election inspectors or board of
canvassers who tampers, increases or decreases the votes received by a candidate in
any election or any member of the board who refuses, after proper verification and
hearing, to credit the correct votes or deduct such tampered votes: Provided, however,
That when the tampering, increase or decrease of votes or the refusal to credit the
correct votes and/or to deduct tampered votes to deduct tampered votes are perpetrated
on a large scale or in substantial numbers, the same shall be considered, not as an
ordinary election offense under Sections 261 and/or 262 of the Omnibus
Election Code, but a special election offense to be known as electoral sabotage and
the penalty to be imposed shall be life imprisonment.
"The act or offense committed shall fall under the category of electoral sabotage in any
of the following instances;
"(1) When the tampering, increase and/or decrease of votes perpetrated or the refusal to
credit the correct votes or to deduct tampered votes, is/are committed in the election of
a national elective office which is voted upon nationwide and the tampering, increase
and/or decrease votes, refusal to credit the correct votes or to deduct tampered votes,

shall adversely affect the results of the election to the said national office to the
extent that losing candidate/s is/are made to appear the winner/s;
"(2) Regardless of the elective office involved, when the tampering, increase and/or
decrease of votes committed or the refusal to credit the correct votes or to deduct
tampered votes perpetrated, is accomplished in a single election document or in the
transposition of the figures/results from one election document to another and involved
in the said tampering increase and/or decrease or refusal to credit correct votes or
deduct tampered votes exceed five thousand (5,000) votes, and that the same
adversely affects the true results of the election;
"(3) Any and all other forms or tampering increase/s and/or decrease/s of votes
perpetuated or in cases of refusal to credit the correct votes or deduct the tampered
votes, where the total votes involved exceed ten thousand (10,000) votes;
"Provided finally, That any and all either persons or individuals determined to be
conspiracy or in connivance with the members of the BEIs or BOCs involved, shall be
meted the same penalty of life imprisonment."
SECTION 43. Section 265 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 is hereby amended to read as
follow:
"SECTION 265. Prosecution. - The Commission shall, through its duly authorized legal
officers, have the power, concurrent with the other prosecuting arms of the government,
to conduct preliminary investigation of all election offenses punishable under
this Code, and prosecute the same."
Election offenses, prosecution of.
SECTION 2. The Commission on Elections shall exercise the following powers and
functions:
xxx
(6) File, upon a verified complaint, or on its own initiative, petitions in court for inclusion
or exclusion of voters; investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute cases of
violations of election laws, including acts or omissions constituting election frauds,
offenses, and malpractices.
COMELEC vs. Espanol
Under Article IX, Section 2(b) of the Constitution,[10] the petitioner is empowered to
investigate and, when appropriate, prosecute election offenses. The grant by the
Constitution to the petitioner of the express power to investigate and prosecute election
offenses is intended to enable the petitioner to assure the people of a fine, orderly,
honest, peaceful and credible election. [11] Under Section 265 of the Omnibus Election
Code, the petitioner, through its duly authorized legal officers, has the exclusive power to
conduct preliminary investigation of all election offenses punishable under the Omnibus
Election Code, and to prosecute the same.
The petitioner may avail of the assistance of the prosecuting arms of the government.
[12]
In Section 2, Rule 34 of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure, all Provincial and City
Prosecutors and/or their respective assistants are given continuing authority as its

deputies to conduct preliminary investigation of complaints involving election offenses

under election laws and to prosecute the same.
The prosecutors deputized by the petitioner are subject to its authority, control and
supervision in respect of the particular functions covered by such deputation. The acts of
such deputies within the lawful scope of their delegated authority are, in legal
contemplation, the acts of the petitioner itself. [15] Such authority may be revoked or
withdrawn any time by the petitioner, either expressly or impliedly, when in its judgment
such revocation or withdrawal is necessary to protect the integrity of the process to
promote the common good, or where it believes that successful prosecution of the case
can be done by the petitioner.
The power to grant exemptions is vested solely on the petitioner. This power is
concomitant with its authority to enforce election laws, investigate election offenses and
prosecute those committing the same. The exercise of such power should not be
interfered with by the trial court. Neither may this Court interfere with the petitioners
exercise of its discretion in denying or granting exemptions under the law, unless the
petitioner commits a grave abuse of its discretion amounting to excess or lack of
jurisdiction.
Naldaza vs. Lavilles
Deputation of prosecutors to investigate & prosecute.
People vs. Basilla
We note that while Section 265 of the Code vests "exclusive power" to conduct
preliminary investigation of election offenses and to prosecute the same upon the
Comelec, it at the same time authorizes the Comelec to avail itself of the assistance of
other prosecuting arms of the Government.
The contention of private respondents that the deputation by the Comelec of the
prosecuting arms of the Government would be warranted only before the elections and
only to ensure free, honest, orderly, peaceful and credible elections, that is, to perform
the peace-keeping functions of policemen, lack substance.
The prompt investigation and prosecution and disposition of election offenses
constitute an indispensable part of the task of securing free, orderly, honest,
peaceful and credible elections. The investigation and prosecution of election
offenses are, in an important sense, more important than the maintenance of physical
order in election precincts.
COMELEC vs. Silva
Prosecutors designated by the COMELEC to prosecute the cases act as its deputies. They
derive their authority from it and not from their offices. 12 Consequently, it was beyond
the power of Chief State Prosecutor Zuo to oppose the appeal of the COMELEC. For that
matter, it was beyond his power, as COMELEC-designated prosecutor, to leave to the trial
courts the determination of whether there was probable cause for the filing of the cases
and, if it found none, whether the cases should be dismissed. Those cases were filed by
the COMELEC after appropriate preliminary investigation. If the Chief State Prosecutor
thought there was no probable cause for proceeding against private respondents, he
should have discussed the matter with the COMELEC and awaited its instruction. If he
disagreed with the COMELEC's findings, he should have sought permission to withdraw

from the cases. But he could not leave the determination of probable cause to the courts
and agree in advance to the dismissal of the cases should the courts find no probable
cause for proceeding with the trial of the accused. It was, therefore, grave abuse of
discretion on the part of the respondent judges to rely on the manifestation of Chief State
Prosecutor Zuo as basis for denying due course to the notices of appeal filed by the
COMELEC.

Prosecution of vote-buying and vote-selling

Sec. 28. Prosecution of Vote-Buying and Vote-Selling. - The presentation of a
complaint for violations of paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 261 of Batas Pambansa Blg.
881 supported by affidavits of complaining witnesses attesting to the offer or promise by
or of the voter's acceptance of money or other consideration from the relatives, leaders
or sympathizers of a candidate, shall be sufficient basis for an investigation to be
immediately conducted by the Commission, directly or through its duly authorized legal
officers, under Section 68 or Section 265 of said Batas Pambansa Blg. 881.
Proof that at least one voter in different precincts representing at least twenty
percent (20%) of the total precincts in any municipality, city or province has been
offered, promised or given money, valuable consideration or other expenditure by a
candidate's relatives, leaders and/or sympathizers for the purpose of promoting the
election of such candidate, shall constitute a disputable presumption of a conspiracy
under paragraph (b) of Section 261 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881.
Where such proof affects at least twenty percent (20%) of the precincts of the
municipality, city or province to which the public office aspired for by the favored
candidate relates, the same shall constitute a disputable presumption of the
involvement of such candidate and of his principal campaign managers in each of the
municipalities concerned, in the conspiracy.
The giver, offeror, and promisor as well as the solicitor, acceptor, recipient and
conspirator referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 261 of Batas Pambansa Blg.
881 shall be liable as principals: Provided, That any person, otherwise guilty under said
paragraphs who voluntarily gives information and willingly testifies on any violation
thereof in any official investigation or proceeding shall be exempt from prosecution and
punishment for the offenses with reference to which his information and testimony were
given: Provided, further, That nothing herein shall exempt such person from criminal
prosecution for perjury or false testimony.
Lozano vs. COMELEC
We uphold the foregoing factual findings, as well as the conclusions reached by
respondent COMELEC, in dismissing the petition for the disqualification of respondent
Binay. No clear and convincing proof exists to show that respondent Binay was indeed
engaged in vote buying. The traditional gift-giving of the Municipality of Makati during
the Christmas season is not refuted. That it was implemented by respondent Binay as
OIC Mayor of Makati at that time does not sufficiently establish that respondent was
trying to influence and induce his constituents to vote for him. This would be stretching
the interpretation of the law too far. Petitioner deduces from this act of gift-giving that
respondent was buying the votes of the Makati residents. It requires more than a mere
tenuous deduction to prove the offense of vote-buying. There has to be concrete and
direct evidence or, at least, strong circumstantial evidence to support the

charge that respondent was indeed engaged in vote-buying. We are convinced

that the evidence presented, as swell as the facts obtaining in the case at bar, do not
warrant such finding.
Bernardo vs. Abalos
It is not disputed that petitioners complaint before the COMELEC involves an election
offense. But in this petition, they conveniently kept silent why they directly elevated to
this Court the questioned Resolution without first filing a motion for reconsideration with
the COMELEC En Banc. It was only after the respondents had filed their comment on the
petition and called this Courts attention to petitioners' failure to comply with Section 1 of
Rule 13 that they, in their Consolidated Reply, advanced the excuse that they "deemed it
best not seek any further dilatory motion for reconsideration', even if allowed by Sec. 1
(d) of COMELEC Rule 13.
Contrary to petitioners' statement that a resort to a motion for reconsideration is
"dilatory," it bears stressing that the purpose of the said motion is to give the COMELEC
an opportunity to correct the error imputed to it.[11] If the error is immediately corrected
by way of a motion for reconsideration, then it is the most expeditious and inexpensive
recourse. But if the COMELEC refuses to correct a patently erroneous act, then it commits
a grave abuse of discretion justifying a recourse by the aggrieved party to a petition for
certiorari.
A petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended,
can only be resorted to if "there is no appeal, or any plain, speedy,
and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law."
In its assailed Resolution, the COMELEC cited a valid reason for dismissing petitioners'
complaint against private respondents for vote buying. The COMELEC found that the
evidence of the respondents have "more probative value and believable than the
evidence of the complainants;" and that the evidence submitted by petitioners are "mere
self-serving statements and uncorroborated audio and visual recording and a
photograph."
Petitioners' complaint expressly states that no supporting affidavits were submitted by
the complaining witnesses[14] to sustain their charge of vote buying. Suffice it to state
that the absence of such supporting affidavits shows the frailty of petitioners'
complaint. Indeed, it is vulnerable to dismissal.

Election offenses as mala prohibita.

People vs. Bayona
The law which the defendant violated is a statutory provision, and the intent with which
he violated it is immaterial. It may be conceded that the defendant did not intend to
intimidate any elector or to violate the law in any other way, but when he got out of his
automobile and carried his revolver inside of the fence surrounding the polling place, he
committed the act complained of, and he committed it willfully. The act prohibited by the
Election Law was complete. The intention to intimidate the voters or to interfere
otherwise with the election is not made an essential element of the offense. Unless such
an offender actually makes use of his revolver, it would be extremely difficult, if not
impossible, to prove that he intended to intimidate the voters.

People vs. Fuentes

The intent of the defendant in carrying the revolver within the prohibited distance from
the polling place is immaterial.|
Election offenses as mala in se.
Domalanta vs. COMELEC
It can be clearly seen from the list above that the discrepancies are too substantial and
rounded off to be categorized as a mere 'computation error' or a result of fatigue. There
is a limit to what can be construed as an honest mistake or oversight in the performance
of official duty. Suffice it to state that the magnitude of the error as reflected in the
discrepancies itemized above renders unacceptable the defense of 'computer error' or
honest mistake.
Garcia vs. CA
The main issue is, Is a violation of Section 27(b) of Rep. Act No. 6646, classified
under mala in se or mala prohibita? Could good faith and lack of criminal intent be valid
defenses?
Generally, mala in se felonies are defined and penalized in the Revised Penal Code. When
the acts complained of are inherently immoral, they are deemed mala in se, even if they
are punished by a special law. 8 Accordingly, criminal intent must be clearly established
with the other elements of the crime; otherwise, no crime is committed. On the other
hand, in crimes that are mala prohibita, the criminal acts are not inherently immoral but
become punishable only because the law says they are forbidden. With these crimes, the
sole issue is whether the law has been violated. 9 Criminal intent is not necessary where
the acts are prohibited for reasons ofpublic policy. 10
Clearly, the acts prohibited in Section 27(b) are mala in se. 12 For otherwise, even errors
and mistakes committed due to overwork and fatigue would be punishable. Given the
volume of votes to be counted and canvassed within a limited amount of time, errors and
miscalculations are bound to happen. And it could not be the intentof the law to punish
unintentional election canvass errors. However, intentionally increasing or decreasing the
number of votes received by a candidate is inherently immoral, since it is done with
malice and intent to injure another.|||
Election offenses, jurisdiction.
Omnibus Election Code, Sec. 268. Jurisdiction of courts. - The regional trial court shall
have the exclusive original jurisdiction to try and decide any criminal action or
proceedings for violation of this Code, except those relating to the offense of
failure to register or failure to vote which shall be under the jurisdiction of the
metropolitan or municipal trial courts. From the decision of the courts, appeal will lie
as in other criminal cases.
COMELEC vs. Noynay
In an Order 2 issued on 25 August 1997, respondent Judge Tomas B. Noynay, as presiding
judge of Branch 23, motu proprio ordered the records of the cases to be withdrawn and
directed the COMELEC Law Department to file the cases with the appropriate Municipal
Trial Court on the ground that pursuant to Section 32 of B.P. Blg. 129 as amended by R.A.

No. 7691, 3 the Regional Trial Court has no jurisdiction over the cases since the
maximum imposable penalty in each of the cases does not exceed six years of
imprisonment.
As we stated in Morales, jurisdiction is conferred by the Constitution or by Congress.
Outside the cases enumerated in Section 5(2) of Article VIII of the Constitution, Congress
has the plenary power to define, prescribe, and apportion the jurisdiction of various
courts. Congress may thus provide by law that a certain class of cases should be
exclusively heard and determined by one court. Such law would be a special law and
must be construed as an exception to the general law on jurisdiction of courts, namely,
the Judiciary Act of 1948, as amended, and the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980. R.A.
No. 7691 can by no means be considered as a special law onjurisdiction; it is merely an
amendatory law intended to amend specific sections of the Judiciary Reorganization Act
of 1980. Hence, R.A. No. 7691 does not have the effect of repealing laws vesting upon
Regional Trial Courts or the Sandiganbayan exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and
decide the cases therein specified. That Congress never intended that R.A. No.
7691 should repeal such special provisions is indubitably evident from the fact that it did
not touch at all the opening sentence of Section 32 of B.P. Blg. 129 providing for the
exception.
Juan vs. People
Petitioners were accused of using barangay property for election campaign purposes and
other partisan political activities during their incumbency as barangay officials, in
violation of Section 261 (o) of the Omnibus Election Code.|.|
Under Section 268 of the said Code, regional trial courts have exclusive jurisdiction to try
and decide any criminal action or proceeding for violation of the Code, "except those
relating to the offense of failure to register or failure to vote.
Unlawful and unauthorized use of government property by incumbent public officers
constitutes fraud. Thus, the provision on preventive suspension in the Anti-Graft
Law applies to such officers even if the alleged violations are primarily considered as
election offenses.
True, the cases against petitioners involve violations of the Election Code; however, the
charges are not unidimensional. Every law must be read together with the provisions of
any other complementing law, unless both are otherwise irreconcilable. It must be
emphasized that petitioners were incumbent public officers charged with
the unauthorized and unlawful use of government property in their custody, in the
pursuit of personal interests. The crime being imputed to them is akin to that committed
by public officers as laid down in the Revised Penal Code. Certainly, petitioners' acts
constitute fraud against the government; thus, the present case is covered by Section 13
of RA 3019.
|||

Election offenses, prescription.

Omnibus Election Code, Sec. 267. Prescription. - Election offenses shall prescribe
after five years from the date of their commission. If the discovery of the offense
be made in an election contest proceedings, the period of prescription shall
commence on the date on which the judgment in such proceedings becomes
final and executory.

Campaign period.
Sec. 3. Election and campaign periods. - Unless otherwise fixed in special cases by the
Commission on Elections, which hereinafter shall be referred to as the Commission, the
election period shall commence ninety days before the day of the election and shall end
thirty days thereafter.
The period of campaign shall be as follows:
Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election - 90 days;
Election of Members of the Batasang Pambansa and Local Election - 45 days; and
Barangay Election - 15 days.
The campaign periods shall not include the day before and the day of the election.
However, in case of special elections under Article VIII, Section 5, Subsection (2) of the
Constitution, the campaign period shall be forty-five days.
RA 7166, Sec. 5. Election and Campaign Period. - Unless otherwise fixed by the
Commission, the election period for the May 11, 1992 regular elections shall commence
ninety (90) days before the day of the election and shall end thirty (30) days thereafter.
The campaign periods are hereby fixed as follows:
For President, Vice-President and Senators, ninety (90) days before the day of the
election; and
For Members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal
officials, forty-five (45) days before the day of the election.
However, in the preparation of the election calendar, the Commission may exclude the
day before the day of the election itself, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Any election campaign or partisan political activity for or against any candidate outside
of the campaign period herein provided is prohibited and shall be considered as an
election offense punishable under Section 263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Campaign, defined.
Omnibus Election Code, section 79:
xxxx
b. The term "election campaign" or "partisan political activity" refers to an act
designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a
public office which shall include:
1. Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of
persons for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any
campaign for or against a candidate;
2. Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades, or
other similar assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or
undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against a candidate;

3. Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews

for or against the election of any candidate for public office;
4. Publishing or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to
support or oppose the election of any candidate; or
5. Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a
candidate.
The foregoing enumerated acts if performed for the purpose of enhancing the chances of
aspirants for nomination for candidacy to a public office by a political party,
aggroupment, or coalition of parties shall not be considered as election campaign or
partisan election activity.
Public expressions or opinions or discussions of probable issues in a forthcoming election
or on attributes of or criticisms against probable candidates proposed to be nominated in
a forthcoming political party convention shall not be construed as part of any election
campaign or partisan political activity contemplated under this Article.
RA 9369, Sec. 13
xxx
"For this purpose, the Commission shall set the deadline for the filing of certificate of
candidacy/petition of registration/manifestation to participate in the election. Any person
who files his certificate of candidacy within this period shall only be considered as a
candidate at the start of the campaign period for which he filed his certificate
of candidacy: Provided, That, unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a
candidate shall take effect only upon the start of the aforesaid campaign
period: Provided, finally, That any person holding a public appointive office or position,
including active members of the armed forces, and officers and employees in
government-owned or -controlled corporations, shall be considered ipso facto resigned
from his/her office and must vacate the same at the start of the day of the filing of
his/her certificate of candidacy.
Lanot vs. COMELEC
There is no dispute that Eusebios acts of election campaigning or partisan political
activities were committed outside of the campaign period. The only question is whether
Eusebio, who filed his certificate of candidacy on 29 December 2003, was a "candidate"
when he committed those acts before the start of the campaign period on 24 March
2004. Under Section 11 of RA 8436, Eusebio became a "candidate," for purposes of
Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, only on 23 March 2004, the last day for filing
certificates of candidacy. Applying the facts - as found by Director Ladra and affirmed by
the COMELEC First Division - to Section 11 of RA 8436, Eusebio clearly did not violate
Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code which requires the existence of a "candidate,"
one who has filed his certificate of candidacy, during the commission of the questioned
acts.
Penera vs. COMELEC (November 2009 case)
Granting Peneras motion for reconsideration, the Supreme Court En Banc held that
Penera did not engage in premature campaigning and should, thus, not be disqualified as
a mayoralty candidate. The Court said

(A) The Courts 11 September 2009 Decision (or the assailed Decision) considered a
person who files a certificate of candidacy already a candidate even before the start of
the campaign period. This is contrary to the clear intent and letter of Section 15 of
Republic Act 8436, as amended, which states that a person who files his certificate of
candidacy will only be considered a candidate at the start of the campaign period, and
unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall take effect only upon the start
of such campaign period.
Thus, applying said law:
(1) The effective date when partisan political acts become unlawful as to a
candidate is when the campaign period starts. Before the start of the campaign
period, the same partisan political acts are lawful.
(2) Accordingly, a candidate is liable for an election offense only for
acts done during the campaign period, not before. In other words, election
offenses can be committed by a candidate only upon the start of the campaign
period. Before the start of the campaign period, such election offenses cannot be
so committed. Since the law is clear, the Court has no recourse but to apply it. The forum
for examining the wisdom of the law, and enacting remedial measures, is not the Court
but the Legislature.
(D) The Courts 11 September 2009 Decision also reversed Lanot vs. COMELEC (G.R.
No. 164858; 16 November 2006). Lanot was decided on the ground that one who files a
certificate of candidacy is not a candidate until the start of the campaign period. This
ground was based on the deliberations of the legislators who explained that the early
deadline for filing certificates of candidacy under R.A. 8436 was set only to afford time to
prepare the machine-readable ballots, and they intended to preserve the existing
election periods, such that one who files his certificate of candidacy to meet the early
deadline will still not be considered as a candidate.
When Congress amended R.A. 8436, Congress decided to expressly incorporate the
Lanot doctrine into law, thus, the provision in Section 15 of R.A. 8436 that a person who
files his certificate of candidacy shall be considered a candidate only at the start of the
campaign period. Congress wanted to insure that no person filing a certificate of
candidacy under the early deadline required by the automated election system would be
disqualified or penalized for any partisan political act done before the start of the
campaign period. This provision cannot be annulled by the Court except on the sole
ground of its unconstitutionality.
Prohibited acts or forms during campaign period
Sec. 85. Prohibited forms of election propaganda. - It shall be unlawful:
To print, publish, post or distribute any poster, pamphlet, circular, handbill, or
printed matter urging voters to vote for or against any candidate unless they bear
the names and addresses of the printer and payor as required in Section 84 hereof;
To erect, put up, make use of, attach, float or display any billboard, tinplate-poster,
balloons and the like, of whatever size, shape, form or kind, advertising for or against
any candidate or political party;
To purchase, manufacture, request, distribute or accept electoral propaganda
gadgets, such as pens, lighters, fans of whatever nature, flashlights, athletic
goods or materials, wallets, shirts, hats, bandanas, matches, cigarettes and

the like, except that campaign supporters accompanying a candidate shall be allowed to
wear hats and/or shirts or T-shirts advertising a candidate;
To show or display publicly any advertisement or propaganda for or against
any candidate by means of cinematography, audio-visual units or other screen
projections except telecasts which may be allowed as hereinafter provided; and
For any radio broadcasting or television station to sell or give free of charge air
time for campaign and other political purposes except as authorized in this Code
under the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission pursuant thereto.
Any prohibited election propaganda gadget or advertisement shall be stopped,
confiscated or torn down by the representative of the Commission upon specific authority
of the Commission.
Authorized expenses
Sec. 13. Authorized Expenses of Candidates and Political Parties. - The agreement
amount that a candidate or registered political party may spend for election campaign
shall be as follows:

For candidates. - Ten pesos (P10.00) for President and Vice-President; and for other
candidates Three Pesos (P3.00) for every voter currently registered in the
constituency where he filed his certificate of candidacy: Provided, That a
candidate without any political party and without support from any political party may be
allowed to spend Five Pesos (P5.00) for every such voter; and
For political parties. - Five pesos (P5.00) for every voter currently registered in the
constituency or constituencies where it has official candidates.
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding any contribution in cash or in
kind to any candidate or political party or coalition of parties for campaign
purposes, duly reported to the Commission shall not be subject to the payment
of any gift tax.
Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE)
Sec. 14. Statement of Contributions and Expenditures; Effect of Failure to File Statement.
- Every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within thirty (30) days
after the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission the
full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in
connection with the election.
No person elected to any public offices shall enter upon the duties of his office
until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein required.
The same prohibition shall apply if the political party which nominated the winning
candidate fails to file the statement required herein within the period
prescribed by this Act.

Except candidates for elective barangay office, failure to file the statements or
reports in connection with electoral contributions and expenditures are required herein
shall constitute an administrative offense for which the offenders shall be liable to
pay an administrative fine ranging from One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to
Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), in the discretion of the Commission.
The fine shall be paid within thirty (30) days from receipt of notice of such failure;
otherwise, it shall be enforceable by a writ of execution issued by the Commission
against the properties of the offender.
It shall be the duty of every city or municipal election registrar to advise in writing, by
personal delivery or registered mail, within five (5) days from the date of election all
candidates residing in his jurisdiction to comply with their obligation to file their
statements of contributions and expenditures.
For the commission of a second or subsequent offense under this section, the
administrative fine shall be from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Sixty
thousand pesos (P60,000.00), in the discretion of the Commission. In addition, the
offender shall be subject to perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
Election propaganda
RA 9006, Section 3. Lawful Election Propaganda. Election propaganda, whether on
television, cable television, radio, newspapers or any other medium is hereby allowed for
all registered political parties, national, regional, sectoral parties or organizations
participating under the party list elections and for all bona fide candidates seeking
national and local elective positions subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of
candidates and political parties, observance of truth in advertising and to the supervision
and regulation by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

For the purpose of this Act, lawful election propaganda shall include:
3.1. Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or printed materials the
size of which does not exceed eight and one half inches in width and fourteen
inches in length;
3.2. Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any
particular political party or candidate for public office;
3.3. Cloth, paper or cardboard posters, whether framed or posted, with an area not
exceeding two (2) feet by three (3) feet, except that, at the site and on the
occasion of a public meeting or rally, or in announcing the holding of said meeting or
rally, streamers not exceeding three (3) feet by eight (8) feet in size, shall be
allowed: Provided, That said streamers may be displayed five (5) days before the date of
the meeting or rally and shall be removed within twenty-four (24) hours after said
meeting or rally;
3.4. Paid advertisements in print or broadcast media: Provided, That the
advertisements shall follow the requirements set forth in Section 4 of this Act; and

3.5. All other forms of election propaganda not prohibited by the Omnibus Election Code
or this Act.
Section 4. Requirements for Published or Printed and Broadcast Election Propaganda.
4.1. Any newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine advertising, posters,
pamphlets, comic books, circulars, handbills, bumper stickers, streamers, sample list of
candidates or any published or printed political matter and any broadcast of election
propaganda by television or radio for or against a candidate or group of candidates to
any public office shall bear and be identified by the reasonably legible or audible
words "political advertisement paid for," followed by the true and correct name
and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit the election
propaganda was printed or aired.
4.2. If the broadcast is given free of charge by the radio or television station, it shall be
identified by the words "airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge by"
followed by the true and correct name and address of the broadcast entity.
4.3. Print, broadcast or outdoor advertisements donated to the candidate or political
party shall not be printed, published, broadcast, or exhibited without the
written acceptance by the said candidate or political party. Such written
acceptance shall be attached to the advertising contract and shall be submitted to the
COMELEC as provided in Subsection 6.3. hereof.
Adiong vs. COMELEC
WON a resolution prohibiting posting of decals and stickers is constitutional.
No. The prohibition on posting of decals and stickers on mobileplaces whether public or
private except in the authorized areas designated by the COMELEC becomes censorship
which is unconstitutional. There is no public interest substantial enough to warrant the
prohibition.
Diocese of Bacolod vs. COMELEC
Respondents cite the Constitution, laws, and jurisprudence to support their position that
they had the power to regulate the tarpaulin. However, the Court held that all of these
provisions pertain to candidates and political parties. Petitioners are not candidates.
Neither do they belong to any political party. COMELEC does not have the authority to
regulate the enjoyment of the preferred right to freedom of expression exercised by a
non-candidate in this case.
The Court held that every citizens expression with political consequences enjoys a high
degree of protection. Moreover, the respondents argument that the tarpaulin is election
propaganda, being petitioners way of endorsing candidates who voted against the RH
Law and rejecting those who voted for it, holds no water.
The Court held that while the tarpaulin may influence the success or failure of the named
candidates and political parties, this does not necessarily mean it is election propaganda.
The tarpaulin was not paid for or posted in return for consideration by any candidate,
political party, or party-list group. By interpreting the law, it is clear that personal
opinions are not included, while sponsored messages are covered.
The Court held that even though the tarpaulin is readily seen by the public, the tarpaulin
remains the private property of petitioners. Their right to use their property is likewise

protected by the Constitution, Any regulation, therefore, which operates as an effective

confiscation of private property or constitutes an arbitrary or unreasonable infringement
of property rights is void, because it is repugnant to the constitutional guaranties of due
process and equal protection of the laws.
1-UTAK vs. COMELEC
The Supreme Court held that the said provisions of Resolution No. 9615 are null and void
for being repugnant to Sections 1 and 4, Article III of the 1987 Constitution.
Section 7(g) items (5) and (6), in relation to Section 7(f), of Resolution No. 9615 are prior
restraints on speech. Section 7(g) items (5) and (6), in relation to Section 7(f), of
Resolution No. 9615 unduly infringe on the fundamental right of the people to freedom of
speech. Central to the prohibition is the freedom of individuals, i.e., the owners of PUVs
and private transport terminals, to express their preference, through the posting of
election campaign material in their property, and convince others to agree with them.
Pursuant to the assailed provisions of Resolution No. 9615, posting an election campaign
material during an election period in PUVs and transport terminals carries with it the
penalty of revocation of the public utility franchise and shall make the owner thereof
liable for an election offense.
The prohibition constitutes a clear prior restraint on the right to free expression of the
owners of PUVs and transport terminals. As a result of the prohibition, owners of PUVs
and transport terminals are forcefully and effectively inhibited from expressing their
preferences under the pain of indictment for an election offense and the revocation of
their franchise or permit to operate.
The right to participate in electoral processes is a basic and fundamental right in any
democracy. It includes not only the right to vote, but also the right to urge others to vote
for a particular candidate. The right to express ones preference for a candidate is
likewise part of the fundamental right to free speech. Thus, any governmental restriction
on the right to convince others to vote for a candidate carries with it a heavy
presumption of invalidity.
Airtime limit on political ads
GMA vs. COMELEC
Section 9 (a) provides for an aggregate total airtime instead of the previous per
station airtime for political campaigns or advertisements, and also required prior
COMELEC approval for candidates television and radio guestings and appearances.
The Court held that the assailed rule on aggregate-based airtime limits is unreasonable
and arbitrary as it unduly restricts and constrains the ability of candidates and political
parties to reach out and communicate with the people. Here, the adverted reason for
imposing the aggregate-based airtime limits leveling the playing field does not
constitute a compelling state interest which would justify such a substantial restriction on
the freedom of candidates and political parties to communicate their ideas, philosophies,
platforms and programs of government. And, this is specially so in the absence of a clearcut basis for the imposition of such a prohibitive measure.

It is also particularly unreasonable and whimsical to adopt the aggregate-based

time limits on broadcast time when we consider that the Philippines is not only composed

of so many islands. There are also a lot of languages and dialects spoken among the
citizens across the country. Accordingly, for a national candidate to really reach out to as
many of the electorates as possible, then it might also be necessary that he conveys his
message through his advertisements in languages and dialects that the people may
more readily understand and relate to. To add all of these airtimes in different dialects
would greatly hamper the ability of such candidate to express himself a form of
suppression of his political speech.
News & opinions regarding candidates
National Press Club vs. COMELEC
The statutory text that petitioners ask us to strike down as unconstitutional is that of
Section 11 (b) of Republic Act No. 6646, known as the Electoral Reforms Law of 1987:

Sec. 11
Prohibited Forms of Election Propaganda. In addition to the forms of
election propaganda prohibited under Section 85 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, it shall be
unlawful;
xxx

xxx

xxx

b)
for any newspapers, radio broadcasting or television station, other mass media, or
any person making use of the mass media to sell or to give free of charge print space or
air time for campaign or other political purposes except to the Commission as provided
under Sections 90 and 92 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881. Any mass media columnist,
commentator, announcer or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office
shall take a leave of absence from his work as such during the campaign period.
(Emphasis supplied)
Firstly, Section 11 (b) is limited in the duration of its applicability and enforceability. By
virtue of the operation of Article IX (C) (4) of the Constitution, Section 11 (b) is limited in
its applicability in time to election periods.
Secondly, and more importantly, Section 11 (b) is limited in its scope of application.
Analysis of Section 11 (b) shows that it purports to apply only to the purchase and sale,
including purchase and sale disguised as a donation, 4 of print space and air time for
"campaign or other political purposes." Section 11 (b) does not purport in any way to
restrict the reporting by newspapers or radio or television stations of news or newsworthy events relating to candidates, their qualifications, political parties and programs
of government. Moreover, Section 11 (b) does not reach commentaries and expressions
of belief or opinion by reporters or broadcasters or editors or commentators or
columnists in respect of candidates, their qualifications, and programs and so forth, so
long at least as such comments, opinions and beliefs are not in fact advertisements for
particular candidates covertly paid for. In sum, Section 11 (b) is not to be read as
reaching any report or commentary other coverage that, in responsible media, is not paid
for by candidates for political office. We read Section 11 (b) as designed to cover only
paid political advertisements of particular candidates.
The points that may appropriately be underscored are that Section 11 (b) does not cut off
the flow of media reporting, opinion or commentary about candidates, their qualifications
and platforms and promises. Newspaper, radio broadcasting and television stations
remain quite free to carry out their regular and normal information and communication
operations. Section 11 (b) does not authorize any intervention and much less control on
the part of Comelec in respect of the content of the normal operations of media, nor in

respect of the content of political advertisements which the individual candidates are
quite free to present within their respective allocated Comelec time and Comelec space.
There is here no "officious functionary of [a] repressive government" dictating what
events or ideas reporters, broadcasters, editors or commentators may talk or write about
or display on TV screens. There is here no censorship, whether disguised or otherwise.
What Section 11 (b), viewed in context, in fact does is to limit paid partisan political
advertisements to for a other than modern mass media, and to "Comelec time" and
"Comelec space" in such mass media.