Republic Act No. 4880

Section 1

Republic Act Numbered One hundred and eighty, as amended, is hereby further amended by inserting new sections to be known as Sections 50-A and 50-B, between Sections 50 and 51 thereof, which shall read as follows:

"Sec. 50-A. Prohibition of too early nomination of Candidates. It shall be unlawful for any political group to nominate candidates for any elective office voted for at large earlier than one hundred and fifty days immediately preceding an election, and for any other elective public office earlier than ninety days immediately preceding an election."

"Sec. 50-B. Limitation upon the period of Election Campaign or Partisan Political Activity. It is unlawful for any person whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any group or association of persons, whether or not a political party or political committee, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the period of one hundred twenty days immediately preceding an election involving a public office voted for at large and ninety days immediately preceding an election for any other elective public office.

"The term 'Candidate' refers to any person aspiring for or seeking an elective public office, regardless of whether or not said person has already filed his certificate of candidacy or has been nominated by any political party as its candidate.

"The term 'Election Campaign' or 'Partisan Political Activity' refers to acts designed to have a candidate elected or not or promote the candidacy of a person or persons to a public office which shall include:

"(a) Forming Organizations, Associations, Clubs, Committees or other groups of persons for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against a party or candidate;

"(b) Holding political conventions, 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 any candidate or party;

"(c) Making speeches, announcements or commentaries or holding interviews for or against the election of any party or candidate for public office;

"(d) Publishing or distributing campaign literature or materials;

"(e) Directly or indirectly soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against any candidate or party;

"(f) Giving, soliciting, or receiving contributions for election campaign purposes, either directly or indirectly. Provided, That simple expressions or opinion and thoughts concerning the election shall not be considered as part of an election campaign: Provided, further, That nothing herein stated shall be understood to prevent any person from expressing his views on current political problems or issues, or from mentioning the names of the candidates for public office whom he supports."

Section 2

Section one hundred and eighty-three of Republic Act numbered and eighty, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 183. Election offenses and their classification. Violation of any of the provisions of sections fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, twenty-nine, forty, forty-one, forty-two, forty-three, forty-four, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty, fifty-A, fifty-B, fifty-one, fifty-five, fifty-six, seventy, seventy-eight, eighty-one, eighty-three, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-one, one hundred, one hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three, one hundred and four, one hundred and five, one hundred and seven, one hundred and eight, one hundred and nine, one hundred and thirty, one hundred and thirty-one, one hundred and thirty-two, one hundred and thirty-three, one hundred and thirty-four, one hundred and thirty-five, one hundred and thirty-six, one hundred and thirty-seven, one hundred and thirty-eight, one hundred and thirty-nine, one hundred and forty-two, one hundred and forty-three, one hundred and forty-four, one hundred and forty-five, one hundred and forty-six, one hundred and forty-seven, one hundred and forty-eight, one hundred and forty-nine, one hundred and fifty, one hundred and fifty-one, one hundred and fifty-two, one hundred and fifty-three, one hundred and fifty-four, one hundred and fifty-five, one hundred and fifty-six, one hundred and fifty-seven, one hundred and sixty-one, one hundred and sixty-four, one hundred and sixty-five, one hundred and sixty-eight, one hundred and sixty-nine, one hundred and seventy shall be serious election offenses; and that of the provisions of sections twenty-two, twenty-three, thirty-seven, fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty, sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three, sixty-four, sixty-five, sixty-six, sixty-seven, sixty-eight, sixty-nine, seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-four, seventy-five, seventy-six, eighty-four, eighty-seven, ninety-one, ninety-six, one hundred and eleven, one hundred and twelve, one hundred and thirteen, one hundred and fourteen, one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and twenty-three, one hundred and twenty-four, one hundred and twenty-six, one hundred and twenty-seven, one hundred and forty-one, one hundred and eighty-one shall be less serious."

Section 3

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 17, 1967.