‘Premature campaigning’ clouds Pinoy voters’ judgment

 

 

LIPA CITY–Social media users and political pundits slammed local candidates here for supposedly using the city’s fiesta parade celebration to maximize their political exposure and prematurely campaign for the May 2016 local and national elections.

But as some of this city’s 173,854 voters from this bustling city observe this, what about local candidates in other places, as well as the candidates for president, vice president, senator and party-list representatives, for being on the prowl as early as October for the Filipino vote?

Premature campainging is not an election offense anymore under the country’s automated elections law. But voters have their hang-ups with what the old manual election provides: no to premature campaigning.post lipa city phils candidates hit for politicizing

“I’m just curious. Why is it that the parade got too politicized?” says FB user and Lipa resident Aizel Joie Andal in her Jan. 20 post at the “Lipa City, Philippine FB Group.”

“We’re not yet in the campaign period.”

Resolution 9981 of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) states that those vying for congressional, provincial, municipal and city elective positions are only allowed to campaign from March 25 to May 7, 2016.

Yet while the local campaign period has yet to start, it seems that candidates in Lipa City are already trying to sell themselves to voters. Take cue from various gimmicks such as joining parades, and handing out freebies such as candies bearing their names

These scenes, some of Lipa City’s netizens think, are already forms of “premature campaign.”

Andal’s post showed photos of re-electionist Lipa Mayor Meynardo Sabili and wife Bernadette (who is running for congresswoman) waving to the crowd and the other candidates during a parade celebrating this city’s annual fiesta.

Also seen on Andal’s photos are Vice Mayor Eric Africa and wife Board Member Rowena Sombrano–Africa, former councilor Avior Rocafort, who joined the parade aboard each of their respective floats.

Andal’s post and its accompanying photos got some 314 likes and 61 comments.

Also seen in the parade were AGAP Partylist Rep. Nicanor Briones and Congressman Mark Llandro Mendoza, both gubernatorial bets. Briones’ and Mendoza’s runningmates —former Batangas Board Member Chona Dimayuga and former Calaca Mayor Sofronio Ona— were also present.

Some candidates for vice mayor and councilor also gave away freebies such as candies, gels, T-shirts and fans with their names and the position they are aspiring for, drawing the ire of critics who went to call them “epal” (intrude annoyingly).

“Fiesta should be the day of the patron, not the day to campaign,” Andal said.

Others echoed her sentiment saying that the parade should be more of a religious activity, honoring the city’s Catholic patron San Sebastian, than doing free forms of politicking.

They likewise appealed to the candidates for respect.

Because of the existence of many candidates, Marckval Aquino joked that people are not seeing fiesta parade on that day but rather the “Parada ng mga Kandidato” (parade of candidates)

Danny Lopez likewise appealed to fellow Lipeño voters to be vigilant and careful in choosing their next set of leaders.

“Those who can’t be trusted in little things can’t be trusted in bigger ones,” Lopez said.

Rico Salazar thinks that Andal’s FB post serves an “eye opener” for Lipa voters: “We already know whom we will vote for in the next elections.”

Ahra Cruz sees candidates joining parades as a “reality of life,” their entry point to introduce themselves and woo voters.as

“But why are people allowing these things to happen? Because they gain something from them (candidates) as well. (A) reality that we can’t stop,” Cruz said.

Just like the tarpaulins of presidential candidates such as Mar Roxas, Jejomar Binay, Rodrigo Duterte and Grace Poe. Just like their videos seen in social media, or their commercials.

Just like the Christmas and New Year’s greetings with people’s faces.

Interestingly, the national office of Comelec said October 15 last year toyed with the idea to extend the campaign for national-level positions to start last October 15, CNN Philippines reported. This is even if Comelec’s official calendar shows that the campaign period for national candidates is from February 9 to May 7, 2016.

Days before that October 15 pronouncement, the Supreme Court through its spokesperson Theodore Te said premature campaigning “is no longer an election offense.”

The basis for such is a 2009 SC ruling on the disqualification case of a mayoral bet in Sta. Monica municipality in Surigao del Norte, Rosalinda Penera. That time, elections were then manual and premature campaign under that system is disallowed.

Penera was disqualified Sept. 11, 2009 but the high tribunal reversed the decision Nov. 25, 2009.

But since the country adopted automated voting in 2010, premature campaigning is not anymore an election offense, Te was quoted as saying in Philstar.com.

The SC thus cites Republic Act 8436 (or the Automated Election Law, that being amended to become RA 9369) saying the new law repealed Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code —that prohibits candidates from wooing voters ahead of the prescribed campaign period.

(The old Section 80 punishes offenders with one-to-six years imprisonment, as well as disqualification to run for public office and deprivation of the right to vote.)

So such acts of communication, be it through the tri-media, or through interpersonal communication, are now considered “exercise of freedom of expression.”

Atty. Candy Orense, Comelec-Lipa election officer, says that while the activities of local candidates during the fiesta parade are already considered “premature campaigning,” they cannot go after them.

“They did not violate any law. There’s nothing we can do about it,” Orense told The Filipino Connection.

Orense said that the Comelec is leaving it up to the voters to discern these candidates.

About Jeremaiah Opiniano