EDITORIAL - Wais jud!

The campaign period has not yet started but already, there are advertisements and posters promoting politicians and groups who are clearly vying for posts in the coming elections. Sadly though, the Commission on Elections cannot do anything about the matter because these people and organizations have not filed their respective candidacies yet. What a way out! Wais jud!

Filipinos are known to find ways to get out of major troubles and politicians and organizations who have started promoting themselves for the elections even if the campaign period has not yet started are the perfect examples. Because they know that they cannot be sanctioned for early campaigning because they have not filed their candidacies yet, they go about their business putting up posters and airing advertisements about themselves.

These advertisements and posters, hiding behind the cloak of public service, however, do not explicitly invite people to support particular politicians and organizations in the elections. But come on, the people are not stupid. We know that these materials posted on walls all over the metropolis and these advertisements on radio and television have but one purpose and this is clearly not public service. These materials are aimed at advancing a person or organization's intention of seeking a post in government.

The country already has laws covering the elections, the campaign period and the filing of candidacies. However, since there are already many politicians who have managed to take advantage of the things that are not covered by the law, such as the putting of posters and the airing of advertisements of people and organizations who have already expressed their intention to run for posts but have not actually filed their candidacies, maybe it is about time that the Comelec does something. This practice should be stopped.

It is not fair that some politicians and organizations, especially those who can afford to, are given an opportunity to have a head start in the campaign. A law that would take care of this lusot would provide a fair playing field for everyone.