Ara Mina seeks Comelec advice vs premature campaigning

Actress Ara Mina on Tuesday went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila to inquire about her limitations as a television personality when she files her certificate of candidacy later this year.

Ara Mina, who will be running for councilor in Quezon City’s second district in the 2010 elections, said she wants to know if she can still appear on her TV shows after filing her COC. “Maaga kasi yung filing kaya masyadong maaga kung after filing hindi na kami maga-appear. Ia-accept naman namin kung 45 days before the election hindi na pwede mag-appear," she told reporters in an interview. (We know that we’re not allowed to appear on our shows 45 days before the election. But non-appearance on our shows immediately after the filing of COC will take its toll on us.) The Comelec has set the filing of COCs from November 20 to December 1. Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Ara Mina and other showbiz personalities with political ambitions in 2010 need not abandon their shows after filing their COCs as long as they would not use their appearances to campaign for themselves. “They can’t openly campaign for themselves, but that should not prevent them from earning a livelihood before the campaign period," he said. Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits “any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period." Larrazabal added that since the campaign period is yet to start, Ara Mina can’t be considered as an official candidate. The official campaign period for next year’s elections will start on Feb. 9, 2010 and end on May 8 of the same year. Campaign period for local elections is from March 26, 2010 to May 8, 2010. - GMANews.TV