Comelec helpless vs political ad placements in Pacquiao fight
11/08/2009 | 10:02 AM
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be helpless against politicians who will place ads in the upcoming bout of Filipino boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao next week.
Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez admitted Sunday that politicians placing ads in Paquaio’s fight with Miguel Cotto on November 15 are not considered candidates since they have not filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs).
“Ang gastusin sa commercial sa event na yan ay di saklaw ng awtoridad ng Comelec. Di yan mare-regulate bilang kampanya dahil wala pang kandidato (Expenses involved in those ads cannot be under Comelec jurisdiction. We cannot regulate that because those politicians are not officially considered candidates)," Jimenez said in an interview on dzBB radio.
“Sa ngayon wala pang nag-file ng COC. Ang laban ay mangyayari bago pa ang filing (As of now, no one has filed a certificate of candidacy. The bout will come before the first day of filing on Nov. 20)," he added.
Jimenez’s admission came amid fears of a barrage of political ads in Pacquiao’s bout with Cotto.
In Pacquiao’s bout with Ricky Hatton last May, several ads featuring prospective presidential bets – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.and Sen. Manuel Roxas II – were aired.
But Jimenez said one way to thwart the ads will be if the public can detect the ads as political, and respond accordingly against these politicians.
“Legally di pa pero ethically that’s a different story. Dapat ang botante maging mapanuri rin (Legally, politicians cannot be stopped from airing those ads. But ethically that’s a different story, especially if voters get wise)," he said.
But for now, he said the politicians can use their funds to buy ad slots for Pacquiao’s bout.
“Pwede nila gamitin ang pera nila sa anumang paraan, kasama ang paglabas ng ad sa napakamahal na slots (They can use their money however they want to use it, including placing ads in expensive slots)," he said.
Meanwhile, Jimenez said the Comelec is still drawing up guidelines for politicians who will run in the 2010 elections but whose films will be part of the Metro Manila Film Festival.
He hinted the Comelec will adopt a “maximum tolerance" approach.
“Ang idea ay huwag maging paraan ito para humingi ng boto sa taumbayan. Definitely, maglalabas tayo ng guidelines (The bottom line is that the candidates must not use the ads to solicit votes from the public. Definitely we will come out with guidelines)," he said. - GMANews.TV
Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez admitted Sunday that politicians placing ads in Paquaio’s fight with Miguel Cotto on November 15 are not considered candidates since they have not filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs).
“Ang gastusin sa commercial sa event na yan ay di saklaw ng awtoridad ng Comelec. Di yan mare-regulate bilang kampanya dahil wala pang kandidato (Expenses involved in those ads cannot be under Comelec jurisdiction. We cannot regulate that because those politicians are not officially considered candidates)," Jimenez said in an interview on dzBB radio.
“Sa ngayon wala pang nag-file ng COC. Ang laban ay mangyayari bago pa ang filing (As of now, no one has filed a certificate of candidacy. The bout will come before the first day of filing on Nov. 20)," he added.
Jimenez’s admission came amid fears of a barrage of political ads in Pacquiao’s bout with Cotto.
In Pacquiao’s bout with Ricky Hatton last May, several ads featuring prospective presidential bets – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.and Sen. Manuel Roxas II – were aired.
But Jimenez said one way to thwart the ads will be if the public can detect the ads as political, and respond accordingly against these politicians.
“Legally di pa pero ethically that’s a different story. Dapat ang botante maging mapanuri rin (Legally, politicians cannot be stopped from airing those ads. But ethically that’s a different story, especially if voters get wise)," he said.
But for now, he said the politicians can use their funds to buy ad slots for Pacquiao’s bout.
“Pwede nila gamitin ang pera nila sa anumang paraan, kasama ang paglabas ng ad sa napakamahal na slots (They can use their money however they want to use it, including placing ads in expensive slots)," he said.
Meanwhile, Jimenez said the Comelec is still drawing up guidelines for politicians who will run in the 2010 elections but whose films will be part of the Metro Manila Film Festival.
He hinted the Comelec will adopt a “maximum tolerance" approach.
“Ang idea ay huwag maging paraan ito para humingi ng boto sa taumbayan. Definitely, maglalabas tayo ng guidelines (The bottom line is that the candidates must not use the ads to solicit votes from the public. Definitely we will come out with guidelines)," he said. - GMANews.TV
