The Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned that politicians seeking to run for the 2025 national and local elections should take down their billboards two days before the campaign period.
The 90-day campaign period for the national candidates — for senator and party-lists will start from 11 February until 10 May.
Local bets, meanwhile, will have 45 days to campaign from 28 March to 10 May.
“Dalawang araw bago po dumating ang campaign period, kinakailangang tanggalin nila ang lahat ng naglalakihang billboards na yan dahil that would be a ground to disqualify them kung hindi [tatanggalin] (Two days before the campaign period, they need to remove their huge billboard because it could be a ground for disqualification),” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Garcia added that they could not use private property as an excuse to not remove their campaign materials.
“Private property, kung binabayaran, hindi lang basta private property yan, and therefore, subject to regulation 'yan (Even if it’s private property, it’s still paid so it’s still subject to regulations),” he continued.
“Tatalima kami sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema na hindi dapat ginagalaw ang kahit na anong paraphernalia sa private property, kaya lang huwag naman aabusuhin (We will obey the decision of the Supreme Court that we should not remove any paraphernalia in private properties, but don’t abuse it). We will respect private ownership, but there should also be responsible ownership,” he added.