Comelec: Campaign materials must use candidates’ latest photos

MANILA, Philippines — Candidates seeking to run in the May 2025 midterm elections may have to submit at least five pictures to be used in their campaign materials.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is requiring the candidates to submit their latest pictures to avoid misrepresentation.

“The candidate can submit up to five different pictures. All the campaign materials should revolve around the five,” Garcia said in a recent interview, adding that all pictures different than those submitted to the commission could be considered as illegal campaign materials.

Garcia stressed that the pictures to be submitted should be taken within six months before filing the certificate of candidacy (COC).

“The pictures should not be from years prior to the filing of the COC because (the old pictures) will no longer reflect the truth. (This requirement) should prevent misinformation or misrepresentation during the campaign,” he said.

If the proposal will be approved by the commission en banc, Garcia said, the rule will be included in the implementing rules of the Fair Election Act.

It could then be a ground for the filing of an election offense and as a ground for disqualification for not complying with Comelec rules.

Garcia submitted last week his proposal to require politicians to submit recent pictures to be used in their campaign materials.

The Comelec is also pushing for the amendment of the Omnibus Election Code, including a provision against turncoatism.

Garcia expressed hope that legislators will issue new rules similar to the Bangsamoro Electoral Code promulgated by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on March 8, 2023.

He noted that this Code has provisions against turncoatism and political dynasty.

“Hopefully, in the near future, we will have similar provisions for the whole country,” Garcia said.