Senator lauds proposed P1-M bond for national candidates

MANILA, Philippines -Senator Richard Gordon on Monday lauded Commission on Election's proposal to impose P1 million bond for all national candidates in the 2010 elections but said additional moves should be made. "Tama yan (I agree). That is a step in right direction para mawala 'yung nuisance candidates (to weed out nuisance candidates)," Gordon said in a press conference. The senator said the poll body should also let the government shoulder the campaign expenses of presidential candidates so that their debt of gratitude will be on the people. "Para matigil yung pangungurakot ng mayayamang kandidato, maglalabas ng pera pagkatapos babawiin later on… Para ang utang na loob nila ay sa taumbayan (This is to stop corrupt politicians from getting back the money they spent during the campaign…so that their debt of gratitude will be on the people)," Gordon said. He said the Comelec should also conduct a monthly or quarterly monitoring on the expenses of the candidates. Gordon, author of the amended Automated Elections Law, has also filed Senate Bill No. 2079 which proposes tri-media exposure for candidates, to present vision and platform of government through televised debates. The senator said his proposal is aimed at leveling the playing field among presidential candidates, adding it is unfair that only candidates with sufficient campaign funds can hog the air times, which does not result to intelligent voting. Comelec chairman Jose Melo earlier said he is asking the poll body's legal department to look into his proposal of imposing a P1 million bond for those running for national positions like the president, vice president and senators to help weed out nuisance candidates. He acknowledged that some will be against it and look at it as limiting the candidacies to the rich but he believes that P1 million is small and would help show that a candidate is able to mount a national campaign. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV