Angara, Sotto file complaint vs ASO jingle

Re-electionist Sen. Edgardo Angara and former senator Vicente Sotto III will file next week a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to stop the airing of the "Aso jingle" of the opposition "unless they comply with the requirements of the law."

Atty. Romulo Macalintal, lawyer of Angara and Sotto, said the jingle should not be broadcast if it will not comply with the provisions under the Batas Pambansa Bilang 881 or the Omnibus Election Code.

"I am clarifying that we won’t stop (it) from airing, provided that the jingle complies with the requirement of the law," he told reporters at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.

He said the law provides that the jingle cannot be aired unless the people or group behind the negative campaign identify themselves and make their addresses public.

Angara said they would not file charges against the media for playing or publishing the jingle but he asked that they be given equal space or airtime to defend themselves.

Macalintal is not sure if former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta will also file a petition with the Comelec against the jingle which is sung to the tune of the ’50s classic "How much is that doggie in the window?"

The two senatorial aspirants plan to file their complaint on Monday.

Supporters of the Genuine Opposition recently launched the jingle which is perceived to be aimed at the three former opposition senators now running under President Arroyo’s Team Unity.

"It does not bear the tagline identifying the person who paid or favor this advertisement is being aired or broadcast. If you would be very technical, it should not only be ‘by friends’ but this is tolerated by the Comelec," he complained.

He said that while the jingle did not name Angara, Sotto and Oreta, "the intrinsic reference of allusion referring to Angara, Sotto and Oreta, the acronym of their surnames," is there.

Macalintal said the jingle portrayed his clients as paid turncoats and even downgraded them by comparing them to dogs, and so could not be considered a lawful propaganda. – Sheila Crisostomo, Aurea Calica and Antonieta Lopez