By ANALOU DE VERA
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has come up with a resolution setting the election period and the schedule of other activities related to the May 2022 national and local polls.
Under Resolution No. 10695, the Comelec said that the election period is scheduled from January 9, 2022 to June 8, 2022. “Gun ban is in effect for the entirety of this period, which means bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec, is prohibited,” the poll body said.
“The following acts are also prohibited: use of security or bodyguard by candidates unless authorized in writing by the Comelec; organizations or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or other similar forces; alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service; and suspension or elective local officials,” it added.
The filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COCs) for all elective positions will be from Oct. 1, 2021 to Oct. 8, 2021, including weekends, the Comelec said.
The same period is also for the filing of lists of nominees, certificates of nomination, certificates of acceptance of nomination and affidavits of existing party-list groups, coalitions and organizations.
The poll body will start posting on Oct. 29, 2021 the “tentative list of candidates” on its website and at the offices where the COCs were filed, “for the aspirants to check their names to appear on the official ballot.”
Also the Comelec set the campaign period for candidates for president, vice president, senator, and partylist groups from Feb. 8, 2022 to May 7, 2022.
The campaign period for local elective positions will be on March 25, 2022 until May 7, 2022. “However, campaigning is prohibited during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, on April 14 and April 15, 2022, respectively,” the poll body said.
The casting of votes for overseas voters is scheduled from April 10, 2022 to May 9, 2022. They may cast their votes in Philippine embassies, consulates, and other Posts “pursuant to the overseas absentee voting system,” the Comelec said.
For local absentee voting, the poll body said they may cast their votes from April 27, 2022 to April 29, 2022. Election Day is set on May 9, 2022. Voting hours has yet to be set.
“Liquor ban is in effect beginning May 8, 2022 until May 9, 2022, which means selling and furnishing, offering, buying, serving, or taking intoxicating liquor is prohibited,” the poll body said.
It added that campaigning is prohibited on the eve of election day. The last day to file the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for all candidates and parties is on June 8, 2022, the poll body said.
