Brillantes: Aggregate TV, radio airtime won't restrain bets' candidacies

January 22, 2013 4:40pm

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Tuesday maintained that their rule on aggregate airtime for candidates aims to regulate overspending and not to restrain their candidacies.

Brillantes said the prescribed television and radio airtime is enough for local and national candidates to promote themselves for the upcoming midterm elections.

He was reacting to the claim of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) that cutting the airtime may restrain the candidacies of the candidates.

“KBP is saying that we have to allow all candidates to be able to propagate themselves. Hindi na ba sobra sobra na ‘yun, bawat isang kandidato 180 minutes sa TV, 120 minutes sa radyo?â€Â Brillantes said.

Under Resolution No. 9615, the Comelec is allotting not more than an aggregate total of 120 minutes of television and 180 minutes of radio airtime for national candidates, and 60 minutes of television and 90 minutes of radio for local bets.

The poll body noted, however, that the prescribed period will apply “whether appearing on national, regional, or local, free or cable televisionâ€Ââ€”meaning the aggregate total airtime will no longer be on a “per stationâ€Â basis, as was the case in the 2004, 2007 and 2010 elections

“Maliwanag naman. Hindi pwedeng individual networks. Kung papayagan namin, sample lang, papayagan namin kayo ng 120 minutes per network, tatlong networks na, 360 minutes ang ibibigay sa mga kandidato. Sinong gagastos sa 360 minutes?â€Â Brillantes said.

He noted too that Comelec should put a limit as candidates tend to overspend if given more airtime. “Siguradong mago-overspend sila kung bibigyan mo sila ng 360 mintues… Pag inubos mo lahat ‘yan, lalagpas ka na, malamang makukulong ka na rin.â€Â

KBP letter

The KBP sent a position paper to the Comelec on the prescribed airtime, saying that the Fair Elections Act allowed a “per stationâ€Â basis for candidates to promote their programs.

“A different manner of interpreting the limit on political advertising time will not only result in unfairness but will discourage candidates from using the mass media to present their qualifications and platform to the electorate cost-effectively – an eventuality that is clearly contrary to the objective of the Fair Elections Act,â€Â according to the letter by KBP chairman Ruperto Nicdao Jr. and KBP president Herman Basbano.

The media group is asking to revert back to the “per station basis instead of on a cumulative basis.â€Â

The per station basis, according to the KBP, “took into account… the limits of campaign spending, the right of the public to information, the right of candidates to determine the most effective means of advertising expenditure to reach the electorate…â€Â

For his part, Brillantes said he does not understand why KBP is complaining against the airtime and not the candidates themselves.

“Anyway, baka sakali pagbigyan namin sila kung gusto nila marinig ang aming opinion at para makumbinsi rin nila kami. At this point, hindi ko maintindihan bakit KBP ang lumalaban dun sa airtime. I think it should be the candidates who should question it,â€Â he said.

He added that they learned from the experience in the 2010 elections, which saw a deluge of political jingles on television and radio.

“Tingin namin, masyadong saturated ang propaganda nung 2010 and even before the 2010 elections. Naging halos lahat ng maririnig mo puro kandidato na all through out,â€Â Brillantes said.

According to Comelec Resolution No. 9476, president and vice president candidates are required to spend P10 for every registered voter, candidates with political parties to spend P3 each voter, and independent candidates with P5 per voter.

The Comelec will monitor campaign expenses and contributions of candidates only during the campaign period. Premature campaigning will not be accounted for in the total expenditures.

The campaign period for national candidates will start from February 12 to May 11, while for local bets from March 30 to May 11. — KBK, GMA News