Comelec requires formal charges for stolen songs used in campaign
Comelec Chairman Atty. George Erwin Garcia —File photo by Lyn Rillon | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) requires a formal complaint to take action against the unauthorized use of copyrighted songs as campaign jingles, its chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Monday.
Garcia made this remark when asked to react to the band Lola Amour’s complaint that their song was used without their consent.
“There should be a formal complaint that the band will file to us. It will be the basis of our action,” Garcia told reporters in a Viber message.
In a post on Twitter (formerly X) on Saturday, Lola Amour said “all” campaign jingles used in campaigns are used without their permission.
“This happened before, and I guess it’s happening again: All of the campaign jingles using our songs do not have our consent. Vote wisely,” the band said.
‘WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT IT’S STOLEN?’
LOOK: OPM band Lola Amour addresses the use of their songs in campaign jingles and says it was done without their consent.
“We will never endorse a candidate we don’t believe in or di namin alam yung platform,” the group behind the hit… pic.twitter.com/VFAUpAUlby
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) March 31, 2025
Previously, Garcia urged poll bets to create their campaign jingles to avoid violating intellectual property rights.
READ: Comelec, IPOPHL encourage poll bets to create own campaign jingles
According to its deputy director general for operations, Ann Claire Cabochan, five cases were filed with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) regarding the use of a song for campaign jingles without permission for the 2022 elections.
Cabochan said one was resolved, while the other four cases are still pending.
According to IPOPHL, candidates who use copyrighted songs without proper permission from the artists may face complaints based on Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
