‘More airtime means more corruption’

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – Allowing candidates to have more campaign airtime means they will be more vulnerable to corruption, President Aquino said yesterday.

Aquino issued the statement in reaction to the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court stopping the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from implementing its airtime limits on political advertisements of candidates in the May 13 polls. 

He said that his vote on the issue of political ads is a “matter of public record” where he “voted against being able to access media.”

“The reason is: If we keep on saying that we have problems about corruption, what are the salaries for government officials?” he asked.

“You make the elections more costly. There might be more temptation to become corrupt to be able to fund the ads.”

Aquino was referring to the nearly P500,000 cost for a 30-second spot on national television on prime time, which would necessarily force candidates on the national level to raise more funds to bankroll their nationwide campaign.

“I still subscribe to the idea that if we are to increase the cost or expenditures of candidates every elections, then it’s like we are perpetually encouraging them to look for funds that they have to spend,” he said.

“And it only means that in all likelihood, the candidates will succumb even more to the temptation of corruption, which we are of course trying very hard to eradicate,” Aquino added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday called for a full disclosure of the expenditures on campaign advertisements to determine the candidates’ compliance with the airtime limits imposed by the high court.

“With the Comelec airtime limits now counted on a per network basis, anyone who uses the full airtime of 180 minutes for radio and 120 minutes for TV will violate the spending cap for candidates of approximately P150 million,” Legarda said. “That means spending P120 million for TV and around P12 million for radio for 30-seconder ads. Don’t forget we still have to pay for the salaries of our staff, for travel expenses and food.”

Under Comelec Resolution 9615, a candidate is allowed to spend only up to P3 for each of the 52 million registered voters.

“Certainly I will not spend that amount. Excessive campaign spending is unconscionable,” Legarda said.

She urged the poll body to come out with official data on the candidates’ airtime usage as she observed that political ads on TV have increased over the past month.

“The Comelec must monitor everyone’s compliance with the rules, especially on spending limits to provide a level playing field,” Legarda said. – With Marvin Sy