(2) Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies,
parades, or other similar assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes
and/or undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against a
candidate;
(3) Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding
interviews for or against the election of any candidate for public office;
(4) Publishing or distributing campaign literature or materials
designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate; or
(5) Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or
against a candidate.
True, that pursuant to Section 15 of Republic Act No. 8436, as amended, even after
the filing of the COC but before the start of the campaign period, a person is not
yet officially considered a candidate. Nevertheless, a person, upon the filing of
his/her COC, already explicitly declares his/her intention to run as a candidate
in the coming elections. The commission by such a person of any of the acts
enumerated under Section 79(b) of the Omnibus Election Code (i.e., holding rallies
or parades, making speeches, etc.) can, thus, be logically and reasonably construed
as for the purpose of promoting his/her intended candidacy.
When the campaign period starts and said person proceeds with his/her
candidacy, his/her intent turning into actuality, we can already consider his/her
acts, after the filing of his/her COC and prior to the campaign period, as the
promotion of his/her election as a candidate, hence, constituting premature
campaigning, for which he/she may be disqualified. Also, conversely, if said
person, for any reason, withdraws his/her COC before the campaign period, then
there is no point to view his/her acts prior to said period as acts for the promotion
of his/her election as a candidate. In the latter case, there can be no premature