Despite the fact that it’s still months to officially start the campaign, local and national candidates, who have already filed their certificates of candidacy, appeared to be taking advantage of the Christmas season.

This came as some of the national bets have their faces and names framed in tarpaulins mounted in power posts along the main highways here.

Take for instance, murals or billboards of Liberal Party official bets — Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo for resident and vice-president, respectively, —- have been mounted a week ago. One such mural was aptly mounted in a strategic area along the junction of Dauis and V. P. Inting avenue orthe national highway on the way to east.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Taguig Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, for president and vice-president under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) had their smaller tarpaulins with their faces and names on it hanged on electric posts along J. A. Clarin street in this city.

The same is true with former MMDA chair Francis Tolentino, who is gunning for senator, whose tarpaulins were posted on some streets like at Borja street.

Other local bets hang their tarpaulins also on a strategic place in the guise of Christmas greetings, one onlooker said in interview.

Some “campaign materials” spotted by BNT have been mounted on their owner’s vehicles.

The campaign period for national officials starts Feb. 9, 2016, or 90 days before the election day while the period for local officials starts on March 25 or 45 days prior to the polls.

It was not immediately if the said campaign materials posted in areas such as markets, sidewalks, bridges or sheds or any other public infrastructure are considered as littering.

 Other poll hopefuls started to circulate hand-outs or leaflets bearing their faces and ”credentials” at the back. These were being handed over whenever they have “discreet” caucuses with their friends, wooing others.

One of the alleged early campaigning is the social media like facebook, where a lot of accounts of the candidates are being used as a vehicle to advance their causes or program of government.

Other national bets like presidential and vice-presidential timbers Vice-Pres. Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Duterte, Senator Bongbong Marcos, Senator Cayetano and other senatorial aspirants use TV for their “early campaign.”

Comelec said that these are not considered “early campaigning” since it’s not campaign period yet. (rvo)