Comelec: No movies portraying lives of poll bets during campaign period

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded mall owners on Tuesday that showing movies that portray the lives of candidates in the May elections violates the Fair Elections Act.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on Tuesday sent a letter to mall owners stating that under the Fair Elections Act, it is unlawful to show the life of candidates in a form of a movie or any theatrical form during the campaign period.

Section 7 of the said Act states that “during the campaign period, it is unlawful to show, display, or exhibit publicly in a theater, through a television station, a video sharing site, social media network, or any public forum any movie, cinematography or documentary, including concert or any type of performance portraying the life or biography of a candidate or in which a character is portrayed by an actor or media personality who is himself or herself a candidate.’

“Please be reminded of this provision of the Resolution pertaining to prohibited forms of election propaganda during the campaign period which may be applicable to the nature of your business,” Jimenez said in his letter.

“Let’s work together to ensure compliance with campaign rules,” Jimenez said in a Twitter post.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates will be from February 12 to May 1  while the campaign period for local bets is from March 29 to May 11. /ee