Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Supposedly, Filipinos should only see, read, hear or watch political advertisements 90 days before elections.
It’s still about eight months to voting day — but already, these advertisements abound.
Former senator and current Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon wants the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to stop this.
He said on Friday (September 18) that early campaigning was a symptom of a corrupt government.
“[E]ven now you see early campaigning which violates the intent of the law… All [of] that has been thrown out the window on the simple pretext that they have not yet filed their certificates of candidacy, which is a lot of baloney.”
But it’s easier said than done — as Gordon saw firsthand.
“[W]hen I was a candidate, I was forced to do this; otherwise I will be left behind.”
Even Comelec had admitted that politicians advertising themselves too many times too early clouds up how voters would make their choices. And rich candidates — or those with rich friends — gain the upper hand.
“Yes, definitely panlalamang ito. Bakit? Una, alam naman nila kung bakit ipinagbabawal ang premature campaigning. Alam naman nila kung bakit di magandang practice yung may nauuna pero ginagawa pa rin nila. That fits the definition of panlalamang,” explained Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez.
Related: Comelec to regulate online election campaigning
But the law states that premature campaigning can only be called out during the campaign period, three months before polls. Before that, anything goes.
“Comelec has to act in accordance to the law. And if there is no law, Comelec cannot act accordingly,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said.
“I think we should trust our electorate that they know these ads are in circumvention of the spirit of the law and that they should vote accordingly,” he added.
Gordon proposed amendments to the Fair Election Act in 2008 when he was a senator — but the bill failed to pass Congress.
He said that it was up to Comelec to sponsor laws or amendments to laws — to rein in overly-eager politicians.
As for his own political plans, he said that he was open to running for public office again — even in 2016.
When asked if he will refrain from putting out advertisements, Gordon had this to say: “Probably… but I have to admit, I have no resources to run.”
