Comelec vows Holy Week ‘shocker’ for bets exceeding airtime limit

A Holy Week ‘shocker’ from the Commission on Elections awaits presidential candidates who have exceeded the airtime limit for radio and television political ads, and have continued to ignore the poll body’s warnings. Comelec legal department chief Ferdinand Rafanan on Thursday said the poll body might come out with the list of violators. "If you think we are not serious, you will be shocked. Magugulat sila kung di nila kami iniintindi (If you think we are not serious, you will be shocked. Those candidates who ignored our warnings will be surprised)," Rafanan said in an interview on dwIZ radio. When asked when the Comelec will come out with its list of violators, he said, "baka itong Holy Week para magsisi sila (we will likely come out with the list during Holy Week so they will repent)." Rafanan said a similar shocker awaits candidates who violate the rules regulating sizes of posters and billboards. "Kung akala nila tulad ito ng nakaraan, magugulat sila (If the candidates think they can get away with it like they did in past elections, they will be surprised)," he said. Airtime limit On Wednesday, Rafanan said they have found at least one presidential bet who already exceeded the 120-minute TV airtime limit allowed for national posts. [See: Presidential bet risks disqualification after exceeding airtime limit] He said the poll body will lodge a motu proprio complaint against the candidate before the Comelec en banc, which will then decide whether or not to bring the complaint to a court hearing. At the same time, Rafanan said they are now finalizing their review of advertising logs of radio and television stations to complete the list.

According to him, candidates for national posts have a maximum airtime of 120 minutes for TV and 180 minutes for radio. Candidates for local posts have a maximum airtime limit of 60 minutes for TV and 90 minutes for radio, he added. He stressed the Comelec does not need proof beyond reasonable doubt to disqualify candidates who exceed the airtime limit as disqualification does not need to reach the courts. "Di proof beyond reasonable doubt ito, substantial evidence lang. Ang disqualification, the Comelec pwede mag-declare on its own, di kailangan ng korte rito (We do not need proof beyond reasonable doubt here. Substantial evidence will do. The Comelec can disqualify a candidate on its own, without having to take this to court)," he said. Rafanan declined to divulge names for now, saying they are waiting to complete the list of alleged violators. "Huwag muna, hintay natin sabay-sabay (Let's not name names for now. We want to disclose the names of violators at the same time)," he said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV