De Lima files bill to ban poll bets from premature campaigning

If Senator Leila De Lima’s new bill will push through, incumbent officials and other politician-turned-celebrities seeking re-election or running for an elective position can no longer appear on television a year before the start of the campaign period.

De Lima filed Senate Bill No. 1893 seeking to prohibit any form of premature campaigning for prospective candidates in national or local elections.

In a statement on Wednesday, she said she filed the bill as some individuals and government officials have started posting banners along streets even before the start of the campaign period for the 2019 elections.

“It’s time to put a stop to such deceptive schemes,” she added.

READ: Comelec: Premature campaigning not poll offense

De Lima said the bill defines a prospective candidate as “any person aspiring for or seeking an elective public office, whether or not he has explicitly declared his intention to run as a candidate immediately preceding elections.”

Under the bill, a prospective candidate cannot endorse a product or service, appear as a guest in a television or radio show (except for news coverages) or in an infomercial, documentary, or movie.

They are also prohibited from accepting employment in media outlets as news anchor, writer or regular talent, the statement read.

Likewise, they cannot buy any print, radio, television, or internet space to advertise himself or any product or service.

“I know that like the anti-political dynasty bill, this type of bill is among those hard to push among many lawmakers. But it’s worth doing,” De Lima said.

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