Senators want laws vs nuisance candidates

MANILA, Philippines - Eight months before the May 2016 elections, some senators are pushing for amendments to the Omnibus Election Code to punish nuisance candidates.

Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Antonio Trillanes IV and Aquilino Pimentel III have called for the approval of Senate Bill 2930, which defines nuisance candidates as those who mock the election process.

The proposed measure seeks to slap with election offense candidates who cause confusion among voters by the similarity of names of registered bets as well as those who filed their certificates of candidacy in a bid to obtain money, profit or any other consideration.

It also considers as an election offense circumstances or acts that clearly demonstrate the candidate has no genuine intention to run for public office.

Meanwhile, candidates in the 2016 elections can utilize the Unaddressed Mail Service (UMS) of the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) to “advertise” themselves to the public.

Under the UMS, a sub-product of PHLPost’s Direct Mail Service (DMS), candidates can select the area where documents bearing information about them will be distributed. The rate is P5 for every 50 grams.

PHLPost assistant postmaster general for marketing Luis Carlos said the sender does not need to indicate the name of the addressee, but only the area, such as the subdivision, where the campaign materials will be delivered.

“There is no need to hire people to distribute campaign materials and advertisements… the postman… can do it for them even on a daily basis… PHLPost can also provide the list of number of households of a target group, upon request,” Carlos said.

“When it goes inside the house, chances are it would be read by the head of the family and maybe some other members of the family,” he said.

Local candidates had previously used the UMS in their campaign.

Carlos said they have sent marketing letters to members of Congress two weeks ago, and have received calls from the chiefs-of-staff of a senator, two congressmen and a local candidate from Southern Luzon. 

He refused to identify the politicians, saying there is no final deal yet.

Carlos assured the public they would accommodate all those interested to try the service. 

“To us it is a business proposition. They would be treated the same because remember the Postal Corp. does not get a single cent from the national government… These are small things that we feel revenues could come in for the postal corporation,” he said. – With Evelyn Macairan