MAKABAYAN senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño assailed the latest Supreme Court ruling lifting the airtime limit on poll ads saying that the decision favors wealthy candidates or those backed up by the ruling elite.
The SC virtually ruled for unli ads. “Ginawang parang unli text, unli call but the problem is its steep costs,” the three-term congressman said.
“It is disgusting that the Supreme Court is again discarding the tenet of social justice and people empowerment in deciding against the effort of the Commission on Election to rein in expensive TV advertisement campaigns which poor or cash strapped candidates cannot afford,” the Bayan Muna solon said.
“This decision came on the heels of the SC pro-rich ruling on the party-list system,” Casiño added, referring to the opening up of the party-list system to non-marginalized parties.
“Sa ganitong pangyayari eh sona libre na naman ang mga mayayamang kandidato at tatambakan ng political ads ang mamamayan. Natutulilig at naririndi na ang mga tao sa paulit-ulit na pol ads ng mga mapepera. Eh ngayon pa kaya?” he said.
“With this ruling, candidates like me are put at a further disadvantage,” Casiño said.
Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano said the Supreme Court’s issuance of a Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 9615 related to political ads airtime limit will benefit big political parties, especially the administration party.
Voting 9-6, the SC effectively lifted the airtime limit.
“This decision by the Supreme Court to lift the political ads airtime limit set by the Comelec will only favor the President’s party – the Liberal Party and their bets.”
“This ruling by the ‘Aquino Supreme Court’ will serve the administration’s objective of achieving a 12-0 result in the senatorial elections. The public must be prepared to be bombarded by political ads 24/7.”
“Candidates and political parties with funds to spend to TV and radio ads will have more exposure. This is unfair to other parties, particularly to partylist groups like Anakpawis and Makabayan senatorial candidate Teddy Casino,” Mariano said.
“Voters must remain vigilant, wise and discerning. Iba ang political ads sa performance record ng mga kandidato. Dapat tingnan ng taumbayan kung ano ang tunay na nagawa at hindi ang ibinibidada ng mga kandidato,” said Mariano.
“Kabilaan at sona libre na ulit ang TV ads ng mga kandidato, lalo na ang mula sa mga malalaking political parties. This will be a disadvantage to independent candidates and partylists groups of marginalized sectors,” the solon added.
Comelec Resolution 9615 issued in January and Resolution 9631 issued in February imposed limits on the total number of minutes for a national or local candidate’s broadcast campaign.
For all national candidates, the limit was set at 120 minutes in all TV networks and 180 minutes in all radio stations. For all local candidates, the cap is 60 minutes in all TV networks and 90 minutes in all radio stations