Palace: Arroyo ready to pull out legacy advertisements

Malacañang on Thursday said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is ready to pull out her legacy advertisements if the Commission on Elections sees the need for it. In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo admitted that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo might end up violating campaign guidelines if her government-funded advertisements are not removed. He clarified however that the ads—which show the President's achievements since assuming office in 2001—are not campaign ads.
“Ang mangyayari dito, it is the government that will end up violating e. Remember, these are not campaign ads by President Arroyo. The prohibition here is use of government resources to campaign for a candidate. Iyon ang bawal. President Arroyo can, if she wants, to run advertisements for her campaign…What is not allowed is the use of government resources for an ad campaign or announcement that will favor a candidate," he said. According to Saludo, the President’s advertisements contracts which are held by government agencies, will likely be suspended until after the May 10 polls should the Comelec order the ad pull-out. Malacañang issued the statement after a petition asking the removal of print and broadcast advertisement of Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a House seat in Pampanga's second district, was filed before the Comelec. (See: Hontiveros asks Comelec to ban Arroyo ads) In a six-page petition, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who is running as senatorial candidate under the Liberal Party banner, 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 give President Arroyo undue advantage over her three contenders – Adonis Simpao, Rosario Sampang, and Feliciano Serrano. "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. 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. Campaign for local positions will start on March 26.— Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV