Friday, February 1, 2013

Media Coverage in Philippine Election

Media networks need not seek for the approval of the Commission on Elections before it could guest a candidate running in the May polls, the poll body's chief said Tuesday.

Instead, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr said TV networks should submit a notice of interview so the poll body could monitor the interview.

But Brillantes said they would issue a "clarificatory" resolution on this, as he admitted that some parts of Resolution 9615, which lays down implementing rules on Republic Act 9006 (Fair Elections Act) is confusing, particularly on the section which states that media should seek prior consent from the poll body before guesting candidates either on television or radio.

Under Resolution 9615, media entities have to secure a "prior approval of the Commission" before interviewing candidates.

"Prior consent should not be interpreted as a consent coming from the commission. It is just prior notice that they're going to interview," Brillantes said.

Meanwhile, Brillantes also told critics of the new Comelec ruling on limited airtime to go to the Supreme Court.

Last week, the poll body issued a resolution lessening the airtime of campaign advertisements, both on television and radio, and regulation of campaign ads online.

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