Comelec chief backs Senate plan to amend Omnibus Election Code

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo has expressed support to the plan of the Senate to amend the Omnibus Election Code, particularly its provisions on the issue of premature campaigning.

“I am in favor of amendments because of these numerous political advertisements… so that it will be stopped already,” he said.

According to Melo, it was time for the elections law to be improved since it is being circumvented by politicians ahead of a scheduled election.

“We hope they can already come up with the proper guidelines…because we are already having a difficult time with it (premature campaigning),” Melo said.

Yesterday, the Senate committee on economic affairs headed by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago conducted a hearing on premature campaigning by government officials through so-called “infomercials” on TV and radio.

She earlier filed a petition seeking to stop the airing of such advertisements, which she described as a “camouflage violation of the campaign ban,” but was later junked by the poll body.

The Comelec chief is hopeful that the senators will be able to come up with revisions so as to prevent such events from happening again.

“I hope they would be able to cover all corners, so to speak, through extensive study. There are many holes (in the law). It is very difficult to do it,” he said.

Section 79 of the Omnibus Election Code states that an individual may only be considered a candidate if he or she has already filed a certificate of candidacy before the Comelec.

The poll body said appearing in product or campaign commercials at this time when the elections are near is part of the right to the freedom of expression as mandated by the Constitution.

The election period for the May 2010 polls will start on Jan. 10, while the filing of certificates of candidacy is set for Nov. 20 to 30.

Among the officials that have “infomercials” are Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Health Secretary Francisco Duque II, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Vice President Noli de Castro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. Chairman Ephraim Genuino, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Chairman Augusto Syjuco, Makati City Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay, Senators Manuel Roxas II, Manuel Villar Jr., Loren Legarda and Richard Gordon. –Daily Tribune