The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday called on candidates to remove illegal campaign materials or face disqualification.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia made the remark on Friday, 28 March, as the poll body launched “Oplan Baklas” against illegal campaign posters of local bets, coinciding with the start of the official campaign period for local positions.

"The illegal campaign materials we removed yesterday have no violations yet," Garcia said in a radio interview on Saturday.

"But in the coming days, instead of us removing it, we will write a letter to the candidates and three days after receipt of the letter, they need to remove it… Otherwise, they would face disqualification, or an election offense," Garcia explained.

The campaign period for national candidates runs from 11 February to 10 May, while the campaign period for local positions is from 28 March to 10 May.

Candidates are not allowed to campaign on 17 April (Maundy Thursday), 18 April (Good Friday), 11 May (eve of Election Day), and 12 May (Election Day.)

Posters should not be any larger than two feet by three feet, according to Comelec.

Meanwhile, election paraphernalia can be distributed five days before a rally but must be removed within 24 hours after the event.