THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) they are only allowed to spend not more than P5 for each voter.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said that to make it easy for candidates to determine how much they are allowed to spend, they should multiply the total number of registered voters in their area by P5.

“The result of their calculation will be their maximum spending cap or limit for their campaign,” Laudiangco said during a briefing Thursday.

“Once the candidate exceeds the allowable amount, he or she may be charged with overspending which is an election offense and the element of vote buying may also come in,” he said.

“Do not overspend,” he warned. Laudiangco said common giveaways like shirts, caps, fans, ballers, and other small tokens are not allowed during the campaign period.

He cited a Comelec memorandum declaring the distribution of campaign materials that contain the name, image and other identifying symbols of those running for the BSKE illegal.

The prohibited items include T-shirts, fans, ballers, hats or caps, ball pens, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, bags, sun visors and “anything of value.” The campaign period for the BSKE will start on October 18 and end on October 28.

The Comelec urged local election officers to enforce the ban on “premature campaigning,” invoking Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code that prohibits partisan political activities except during the campaign period.

“Thus, a person who, after filing his or her certificate of candidacy, publishes or distributes campaign materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate, including him or herself, commits the offense of premature campaigning if such act or acts were committed not within the campaign period,” the Comelec stated in the memorandum.

The Comelec also ordered local election officers to remove campaign posters in public places and properties that were not designated as common poster areas.