Supreme Court (SC) came out with a decision stopping the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from imposing airtime limits on political advertisements on television and radios.
The magistrates voted 9-6 in favor of issuing a status quo ante order against Comelec Resolution 9615 and Resolution 9631.
Under the said resolutions, Comelec set the guidelines for all national candidates a total of 120 minutes of political ads on all TV networks and 180 minutes on all radio stations, while 60 minutes for TV and 90 minutes on radio for local candidates.
A temporary restraining order petition was filed by media organizations GMA 7, TV5 and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) last February.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. was disappointed with SC’s decision, and according to him, this is the fourth time he became upset with the higher court’s rulings wherein thoughts of resigning as Comelec Chair came into his mind.
The fourth count started with the Bacolod issue of Team Buhay and Team Patay tarpaulins, then the disqualification cases of 52 party-list groups, third was on the mayoral dispute in Imus City, Cavite and now on the new airtime limits of political ads.
Brillantes also questioned the timing of the ruling with only less than a month before the Election Day.
Candidates should now maximize the given time left in using the SC’s decision on political ads.
Meanwhile, candidates expressed their reactions on the issue giving advantage to some and seen as more of a disadvantage to others.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, a re-electionist under the Liberal Party acknowledged the decision wherein this would help in the campaign by giving access to poor and rural areas information about candidates.
On the other hand, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino said that the SC’s TRO allowed unlimited advertisements, just like the “unli text” and “unli call,” which puts him in a disadvantaged position.
San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito wrote on his Twitter account, “The airtime limit set by the Comelec levels the playing fields among candidates. The SC decision prohibiting it is not for a fair campaign.”
Ejercito, a senatoriable under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), is named by Comelec as one of the top spenders among those who submitted reports on TV and radio ads aired as of March.
But contrary to this report, Ejercito said he does not have much funds to buy expensive airtime. He hopes that the removal of limit will not be abused by the administration party.
Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, also a senatorial candidate of UNA also questioned the timing saying it would be very disadvantageous and unfair for those who are running with limited funds.
Same sentiment came out from Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, a candidate of the Liberal Party or Team PNoy, saying that those candidates with more money would again be given the advantage.
