Comelec backtracks, says celebrity endorsers no longer need to resign

Celebrities endorsing political candidates no longer need to resign or take leaves of absence from their work during the campaign period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said, contradicting a previous statement made by a poll official. In an interview, Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the Comelec en banc found that a thorough reading of the law shows that celebrities who endorse and campaign for candidates only need to resign or take a leave of absence if they are required to do so by their employers. "There is no requirement in the law for a person to resign, the decision is left to the network or the person concerned," Larrazabal told reporters. Larrazabal issued the statement after administration vice presidential bet Edu Manzano, through his lawyer Romulo Macalintal, requested the poll body to review and reconsider section 36 of Comelec Resolution 8758 which restricts the campaign propaganda of candidates and implements Section 6.6 of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act. Section 6.6 of the Fair Elections Act reads: "Any mass media columnist, commentator, announcer, reporter, on-air correspondent or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office or is a campaign volunteer for or employed or retained in any capacity by any candidate or political party shall be deemed resigned, if so required by [his] employer, or shall take a leave of absence from his/her work as such during the campaign period." The campaign period for national candidates began on February 9 and will end on May 8. The campaign period for local candidates will start on March 26 and will also end on May 8. Citing the law, Ferdinand Rafanan of the Comelec Law Department said that actors and media personalities should resign or take a leave of absence from their shows during the campaign period. Consensus But Larrazabal said the Comelec en banc was one in saying that the proper interpretation of the law says otherwise. "There was a consensus," he said. He, however, said that the poll body will probably no longer issue a resolution on the matter. "It's a simple interpretation, the law is clear," he said. Nonetheless, Larrazabal still warned celebrities from using their media time to promote the political aspirations of a candidate, as likewise prohibited by Section 6.6 which reads: "any media practitioner who is an official of a political party or a member of the campaign staff of a candidate or political party shall not use his/her time or space to favor any candidate or political party." Violation of this provision constitutes an election offense, which is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office, he said. Larrazabal then sought vigilance from the public in monitoring the behavior of celebrity endorsers. "It's a matter of ethic. You can see it by his or her actions, if he or she is favoring a political candidate," he said. "If somebody thinks that there is an illegal act being committed, they should complain [and] we will act accordingly," he added. Endorsers Among the endorsers of Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III are Vilma Santos, Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Sharon Cuneta, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Anne Curtis, Erik Santos, Bea Alonzo, Gretchen Barretto, Mariel Rodriguez, Sitti, Pooh, Kim Chiu, Kris Bernal amd Aljur Abrenica. Senator Manuel Villar’s endorsers include Dolphy, Sarah Geronimo, Michael V., Willie Revillame, Manny Pacquiao, and Richard Gutierrez. Administration bet Gilbert Teodoro has the Rivermaya band as endorser. Religious leader Eddie Villanueva has Gloc-9, and Gary Valenciano and family. Former President Joseph Estrada has Lorna Tolentino, Aiko Melendez, and Eddie Garcia as endorsers. Earlier, GMA Network Inc. advised talents to go on leave should they decide to continue endorsing candidates. - RSJ/RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV