The Comelec made the warning as the 45-day campaign period allowed by law for senatorial candidates will hit the halfway mark on March 29. Charges of overspending against some of the candidates have already started to surface.

Senatorial candidates and sectoral groups accredited to participate in this year’s elections enjoy a 90-day campaign period since they have a nationwide constituency while all other candidates such as for governors and members of the House of Representatives are allowed to campaign for only 45 days because of their limited constituencies.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos Sr. said overall political expenditures -- whether in print or broadcast media, as well as in rallies, meetings, caucuses, propaganda materials and other forms of campaigning -- must not exceed what is specified by the law.

He said as stated in Comelec en banc Resolution No. 7794, official candidates of political parties must not spend more than R3 for every voter currently registered in the constituency where they filed their certificates of candidacy.

For candidates without any political party and without support from any political party, Abalos said the law allows them to spend not more than R5 for every voter for their campaign.

Political parties and party-list groups could spend not more than R5 for every voter currently registered in the constituency or constituencies where they have official candidates or nominees, Abalos said.

"The expenses herein referred to include those incurred or caused to be incurred by the candidate, whether in cash or in kind, including the use, rental or hire of land, water or aircraft, equipment, facilities, apparatus and paraphernalia used in the campaign," Abalos said.

Abalos said if the land, water or aircraft, equipment, facilities, apparatus and paraphernalia used are owned by the candidate, his contributor or supporter, the Comelec shall assess the amount commensurate with the expenses for the use thereof, based on the prevailing rate in the locality and shall be included in the total expenses incurred by the candidate.

He said it is the duty of every candidate, treasurer of the political party and person acting under authority of such candidate or treasurer to issue a receipt for every contribution received, and to obtain and keep a receipt stating the particulars of every expenditure made.

"It is the duty of the person to whom an electoral expenditure is made to require every agent or political party to present written authority to incur electoral expenditures in behalf of such candidate or treasurer," he said.