The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has directed incumbent officials seeking reelection in the May 12 midterm polls to take down their faces from local government projects, warning that using public resources for self-promotion violates election rules once the local campaign period begins on March 28.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia emphasized that politicians who display their images on government-funded projects turn these initiatives into campaign materials that may influence voters.
He acknowledged that officials’ names may appear on these projects due to their roles but insisted that removing their photos ensures a fair electoral process.
Garcia also warned that these acts constitute an “abuse of state resources” (ASR), which involves misusing government funds, infrastructure, and media platforms for electoral gain. Election laws classify ASR as an offense.
Garcia assured that election officers will issue notices to candidates, directing them to comply with regulations and remove unlawful displays.
As the local campaign period nears, Comelec expects more violations related to unauthorized campaign materials.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.