Presidential candidates' campaign posters in Nasugbu, Batangas.

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino voters on Monday complained that candidates have been flooding their neighborhoods with election campaign posters, even before the official national campaign period starts on Tuesday (February 9).

In a text message sent to ABS-CBN's "Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo" (BMPM) hotline, Boto Patroller MJ said tarpaulin streamers of presidential candidates Sen. Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr. and Sen. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. have been prominently displayed in Nasugbu municipality in Batangas.

MJ also said that Villar and Teodoro calendars are being given away to residents.

Villar is running under the Nacionalista Party (NP) while Teodoro is running under Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

"Sana naman po maghintay sila ng exact date ng pangangampanya. (They should have waited for the exact date when campaigning is allowed)," MJ said in a text.

Patroller Girlie, meanwhile, complained about attention-grabbing tarpaulin signs that spanned entire footbridges along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

In a picture e-mailed to BMPM, the large green sign bore the words: "Maraming Salamat Po! Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa footbridge na ito. (Thank you! President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for this footbridge)."

These signs were hung over the sides of footbridges near the Ayala-UP Techno Hub, Asian Institute of Tourism and the areas near Tandang Sora.

"It is just too noticeable not be noticed," she said.

"Pera ng bayan ang ginagamit sa pagpapagawa ng mga footbridges na ito at hindi personal na yaman ni Pangulong Arroyo. (Taxpayers' money were used in constructing the footbridges, and not Arroyo's personal wealth)," she added.

Arroyo is running for representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga on May 10.

'Like a fiesta'

A footbridge is draped with a large poster bearing the president's name. She is running for Congress this year.

Boto Patroller Karen of Barangay Damayan in Frisco, Quezon City decried the clutter of campaign leaflets and banners that were strung along electrical wires and poles right outside their Barangay Hall (village hall) and on every street corner.

These assorted banners and leaflets included the faces and names of both local and national candidates.

These include former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), who is running for Quezon City mayor; and Quezon City 1st district councilor bets Fermin "Perry" Bitudio Bilaos (NP), Alexis Herrera (Liberal Party), and Anthony Peter Dario "Onyx" Crisologo (NP).

"Marami pa po dito sa amin na mga banderitas na may mukha ng kandidato. Diba bawal pa po 'yon? Wala pa naman po tayo sa campaign period. Puwedeng paki-report na lang sa Comelec. Maaari [sila] kasuhan, hindi po ba?" Karen said.

(There are many fiesta banners here with the faces of candidates. Isn't that disallowed? It's not the campaign period yet. Please report this to the Comelec. We can file a case against them, right?)

The same situation was apparent in Pio del Pilar, Makati City, where a Boto Patroller claimed that someone was distributing leaflets showing the face of Racquel Manalili, an independent candidate running for Makati 1st district councilor, in their area.

(Read Newsbreak's report on how voters dislike premature campaigning here)

Restrictions

"Happy Fiesta!" Political campaign ads plaster a wall in Quezon City with well wishes from candidates.

The Supreme Court had lifted restrictions on premature campaigning between December 1 and the start of the campaign period, which is February 9 for national posts and March 26 for local races.

This allowed candidates to do whatever they wanted from December 1 until the start of the campaign.

However, once the official national campaign period starts, candidates have to follow stricter rules on campaigning.

Under the Fair Election Act (Republic Act 9006), national candidates are only allowed one-fourth to half-page ads in newspapers and tabloids respectively, 120 minutes of TV ad airtime and 180 minutes of radio ad airtime.

Local candidates cannot have more than 60 minutes of TV advertisement airtime and 90 minutes of radio advertisement airtime. There are also restrictions on the size of their posters.

The Comelec, however, said the regulation of campaign advertisements on the internet is still considered "virgin territory."

Those who violate these rules can face 1 to 6 years imprisonment without probation, disqualification to hold public office, deprivation of the right of suffrage and can be asked to pay a fine of not less than P10,000. Report by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak. Photos sent to ABS-CBN News.