Hontiveros asks Comelec to ban Arroyo ads

A senatorial candidate on Tuesday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to order the removal of print and broadcast advertisements of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is seeking a House seat in Pampanga's second district in the May 10 polls. In a six-page petition, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros (Liberal Party) asked the poll body to ban President Arroyo's Ganito Tayo Noon, Ganito Tayo Ngayon advertisements and other "collaterals" promoting her activities and achievements as the country's chief executive. She said these advertisements give President Arroyo undue advantage over her three contenders – Adonis Simpao, Rosario Sampang, and Feliciano Serrano – in the congressional race for the second district of Pampanga. "Using the mantle of the Office of President, her tarps can be longer, her posters can be bigger, and her TV commercials can exceed the time limit," Hontiveros said. Simpao is running under the Liberal Party (LP) banner, while Serrano and Sampang are independent candidates. Hontiveros also asked the Comelec to hold the release of funds by any government agency for projects that would promote President Arroyo. She accused the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) of not divulging the total amount allocated for the President's "vanity" ads. "Funds that should be used for crucial programs are being diverted to finance President Arroyo's campaign. That she could place multimillion ads using public funds is a proof that she can and she is willing to use the resources and machinery of the government to illegally influence the election," she said. Campaign for local positions will start on March 26. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento agreed that President Arroyo really has "undue advantage" over her rivals. "Unfair talaga (It really is unfair), there is unfairness," he said, adding that the Comelec en banc still has to discuss the matter thoroughly. Sarmiento, however, noted that the Supreme Court had already ruled on a similar case in the past, and it favored the incumbent official. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV