Senate bets told to take down illegal campaign materials in CAR

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia. —File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — All 66 Senate candidates were issued a notice to remove campaign materials posted in illegal sites in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday.

“We talked to the assistant director of CAR. They issued [a notice] to all 66 candidates. We think that they came out with a generalized notice,” Garcia said in Filipino in an ambush interview when asked how many senators were issued notice to dismantle illegal campaign materials.

Garcia also shared that supporters of candidates removed their illegal campaign materials upon receiving the notice.

Garcia previously said that a notice will be issued to a candidate or party-list to remove campaign materials posted in illegal sites within three days. 

Failure to comply with the rules constitutes an election offense or disqualification in the 2025 elections, he added.

According to the Comelec, campaign materials are considered illegal if they do not follow appropriate sizes, are not made of the right materials, and are posted on electric posts or trees.

It launched “Oplan Baklas”  last February 11, marking the start of the campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-lists.