Movie and television personalities who are would-be public servants will not be allowed to appear on television, films, and social media once the Commission on Elections (Comelec) implements the ban on premature campaigning for the May 2025 midterm polls.

“The Comelec will stand firm that those who will file their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) this October will immediately be considered as candidates. Whatever are the prohibitions, it will be applicable to all,” Comelec chairperson Erwin Garcia said in a media briefing on Friday.

“We will presume all those, who filed their COCs, as engaged in premature campaigning when it’s done prior to the campaign period,” he added.

The poll body chief is hoping that nobody will question their move, just like when they implemented the same in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“When we imposed it during the BSKE, nobody went to the Supreme Court to question the Comelec. Hopefully, with the support of the people, nobody will question us (this time),” he said.

Under the Poll Automation Law, “any person who files his certificate of candidacy shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period”, and that “unlawful acts applicable to a candidate shall be in effect only upon the start of the campaign period.” (PNA)