MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — The campaign period for local candidates in the 2025 midterm polls officially began Friday, with bets wasting no time to meet voters in their respective districts.

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Sen. Nancy Binay, who is running for mayor of Makati City, started her campaign early by doing house-to-house in Barangay Pio del Pilar.

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In Quezon City, re-electionist Mayor Joy Belmonte chose to start her proclamation rally with a mass along with her Serbisyo sa Bayan Party.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna took to the streets of Sampaloc, her own neighborhood, to kick off her reelection campaign. 

PALACE: LOCAL BETS SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW

Malacañang also reminded candidates for local positions to abide by the country’s election laws.

“Unang-una kasi kayo po ang magsisilbing leader eh. So dapat kayo ang manguna na sumusunod sa batas,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

(First of all because you are running to be elected leaders. So you should be the first to follow the law)

Castro also issued a reminder to the personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to remain apolitical and not to be swayed by emotions as the election period heats up.

“So wag magpapagamit sa politiko, wag magpagamit sa damdamin. Alamin nila, tandaan nila na ang kanilang trabaho, manatiling loyal sa bansa, manatiling loyal sa Konstitusyon,” the official said.

(Don't let yourself be used by politicians, don't get carried away by emotions. They should know and remember their duty, be loyal the the country and to the Constitution)

A Quezon City patrolman is facing administrative and criminal complaints for making videos and content in violation of Philippine National Police social media guidelines and critical of the government's arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. 

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Government also reminded candidates to take care of their health while conducting their campaigns under extreme heat.

“Muli, pinapaalala ng [Department of Health] na mag-ingat, uminom palagi, pumunta sa malilim na lugar, at ingat,” she said.

(Again, the DOH is reminding people to be careful, to stay hydrated, to stay in shaded areas and to take care)

'OPLAN BAKLAS' VS ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN POSTERS

The Commission on Elections also started dismantling illegal campaign materials in the Oplan Baklas operation in different areas.

Campaign materials that failed to disclose their sponsors were also removed for noncompliance with the Fair Election Act.

The Commission on Elections and the Metro Manila Development Authority also removed illegal campaign materials across Makati.

Comelec and MMDA personnel began early in the morning to clear and dismantle campaign materials that violated election regulations. 

Campaign posters exceeding the permitted dimensions, improperly placed campaign materials displayed outside the COMELEC-designated areas, and banderitas with the names of running candidates affixed to utility cables and posts were taken down.

“Lahat ng mga nasa public places lang or public property na nakatayo na ganyan bawal yan… banderitas siya tapos may mga pangalan ng political candidate bawal din then nakasabit siya sa mga kable at mga poste, bawal 'yan,” lawyer Antonette Aceret, election officerof District 1, Makati Comelec stressed.

(Those that are in public places or on public property are unauthorized. Flaglets with names of candidates are also not allowed, they shouldn't be hung from utility poles and cables)

Aceret clarified that Comelec does not remove campaign materials displayed on private properties.

This operation is part of Comelec’s efforts to ensure fair and orderly elections by enforcing regulations during the official campaign period.

Over 18,000 local positions are up for grabs in the midterm elections set on May 12 

The campaign period for senatorial and party-list bets started in January. 

—With a report from Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News

For more news and features on Philippine elections, visit the ABS-CBN News' Halalan 2025 page.

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