Comelec to candidates: Observe campaign rules

Candidates in this year's elections should limit their advertisements and other propaganda once the campaign period begins, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned Tuesday. "It's almost February and the Commission on Elections would like to remind everyone who's interested, everyone who's running, that under the law, the campaign prohibition and rules will kick in at the start of the campaign period," Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters in an interview. Jimenez said campaign restrictions will be implemented starting February 9 for national candidates and March 26 for local candidates. He said the reason why they came out with a rather early reminder is because they want the voters, and not the Comelec, to "scare the daylights" out of the candidates. "Ultimately the candidates are answerable only to the voters. If the voters get it into their heads..., then that I think will be the most effective reminder for them to stay within the bounds of law," he said. Jimenez said candidates have had enough time to introduce themselves to the public even before the campaign period. "They've had several months of free for all. Enough. Once the campaign period kicks in, you have to stay within the restrictions that are mandated by law. If you don't stick with those restrictions, then by God I hope the voters make you pay for it," he said. Restrictions Jimenez said the restrictions during the campaign period would limit the amount of broadcast advertising aired and the size of printed materials. "All of these restrictions will be subject to Comelec guidelines that will be released in due time," he said, adding that the guidelines will be released within the next two weeks. He said the guidelines would be similar to the ones that were released during previous elections but that they will take into consideration the proliferation of new modes of advertising like the use of tarpaulins, rolling trucks, electronic billboards, and the Internet. Jimenez was quick to note, however, that they still have to discuss whether they will consider regulating the Internet. "The whole question of internet use is virgin territory," he said. He said that violation of campaign regulations would constitute an election offense, which is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office. Campaign period for both local and national candidates will end on May 8, 2010. The election period, on the other hand, began on January 10 and will end on June 9. - RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV