Friday, February 8, 2013

Campaign rules on media coverage

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to conduct a meeting with media organizations on Jan 31 (Thursday) to discuss the contested campaign rules on media coverage for the midterm elections.

"The issues of revised airtime limits and the right to reply will primarily be discussed among others. So I invite all interested parties/groups, candidates and media entities to attend," Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. said.

The poll body will hear the motion for reconsideration filed by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas and TV network GMA-7 regarding Comelec's resolution on campaign rules such as the limited airtime for candidates, the need to seek for approval from the poll body before guesting a candidate and the right to reply rule.

Earlier, the KBP said the 120-minute airtime limit for television and 180-minute limit for radio is "restrictive" while the right to reply rule is "unconstitutional."

On the other hand, GMA-7 contested the right to reply rule where candidates and political parties who feel slighted by their critics have the right to respond.

The network said it is worried that the provision might result in being swamped with demands for replies from various candidates.

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