Alcohol Prohibition Enforced
May 2025 Elections in the Philippines: Campaigning and Liquor Ban Rules
The party's over for candidates as the 90-day and 45-day campaign periods for national and local elections respectively ended on May 10 at midnight. Now, it's time for a two-day liquor ban from May 11 to May 12.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) sent a clear message to candidates on May 10, reminding them that the rules and regulations implementing Republic Act No. 9006, aka the Fair Election Act, strictly forbid campaigning on May 11 (Sunday) and May 12 (election day). This stems from Comelec Resolution No. 11085, which outlines the regulations for the May 2025 elections and Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections.
Campaigning prohibitions include public canvassing, distribution of campaign materials, and unauthorized perks like free food or transportation for voters or supporters. The no-go zone even includes sporting shirts with candidates' faces on them. On top of that, all campaigning paraphernalia and advertisements on social media, television, and radio should be taken down before May 11.
The liquor ban, outlined in Comelec Resolution No. 11057, takes effect on May 11 and extends until May 12. This means no alcohol consumption, selling, or offering, anywhere in the Philippines during those days. However, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other similar certified tourist-oriented establishments can serve alcohol, provided they secure prior written authorization from the Comelec. Only foreign tourists in these authorized establishments are exempted from the liquor ban.
The Comission on Elections is expecting around 68 million Filipinos to take part in the elections on May 12 to select 12 senators, 63 party-lists, 254 district representatives, and 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.
These measures, designed to maintain a peaceful and regulated election environment, are crucial in preventing last-minute campaigning pressures and disruptions caused by alcohol-related misbehavior during the voting process[1]. It's time to pause the campaign trail and take a swig-free break before the big day.
- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stated that campaigning is prohibited on May 11 (Sunday) and May 12 (election day) for the 2025 elections in the Philippines, as per Comelec Resolution No. 11085.
- The liquor ban, as outlined in Comelec Resolution No. 11057, will be enforced from May 11 to May 12, restricting alcohol consumption, selling, or offering anywhere in the Philippines during those days.
- All campaigning activities, such as public canvassing and distribution of campaign materials, are prohibited during the two-day prohibition period, as outlined in the regulations for the May 2025 elections and Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections.
- In the general-news and crime-and-justice category, the May 2025 elections in the Philippines will see around 68 million Filipinos casting their votes to select 12 senators, 63 party-lists, 254 district representatives, and 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.
- The business sector, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other similar certified tourist-oriented establishments, can serve alcohol during the liquor ban, but they must secure prior written authorization from the Comelec, and foreign tourists in these authorized establishments are exempted from the liquor ban.
