Airtime limit okay for some senatorial bets

CEBU, Philippines - Several senatorial candidates are not opposed to limiting their radio and television airtime but questioned the provision in the Commission on Elections resolution that requires media outlets to seek permission from the poll body before conducting news interviews.

The Comelec issued a resolution that limits the candidates’ airtime to 120 minutes for television and 190 minutes for radio during the campaign period.

Former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, whose advocacy ads had been airing even before the campaign period starts, said that she is not against it.

Mrs. Villar, who is known in her advocacy as “Misis Hanep Buhay”, admitted that she needs more exposure in radio and television because she is new to the national political arena unlike her husband, Senator Manny Villar.

Mrs. Villar is running under the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Coalition.

“Pero wala na tayong magagawa diyan. Kung yan ang gusto nang Comelec, sundin na lang natin,” said Villar.

Former Senator Richard Gordon said it would be better for the political party to pay the ads of its candidates in order to save money.

Gordon said a 30-second advertisement in prime time costs around P480,000.00 per spot.

Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro  Casiño and former Senator Miguel Zubiri welcomed the Comelec resolution saying that it would level the playing field for all the candidates.

According to them, Rich candidates would not anymore have too much advantage over the poor ones because of the limit.

 Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn lauded the Comelec for coming up with the resolution.

The senatorial candidates of UNA however said that the provision in the resolution that requires media outlets to ask permission from the poll body before conducting news interviews is already too much.

“Masyado namang mahirap yan. Papaano na kung may ambush interview, tapos tatawag ka pa ng Comelec for permission, I think that’s too much,” said Villar, who attributed her good standing in the latest SWS survey to media interviews and television advertisements.

Villar urged the media organizations to question the said provision in the Comelec resolution. She said it would be self-serving for candidates to be questioning it.

“That is an infringement of editorial policy,” said Zubiri.

Casiño on the other hand described it as denial of the people’s right to information.

“That is a violation of the freedom of speech,” Gordon added. (FREEMAN)