Comelec hails SC decision to defer TRO on airtime limit rule

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) welcomed the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to defer the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on their airtime limit rule.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters Tuesday that the SC’s decision was “good news” saying “I think they’re just going to ask us to comment.”

“Kasi talagang magaling ang Supreme Court, ibig sabihin alam nila na hindi talaga dapat mag-issue ng TRO (The Supreme Court is really doing well it’s job, I mean they know it’s not the right time to issue a TRO),” Brillantes said.

GMA Network Inc. and TV 5 had filed a petition before the SC questioning Comelec Resolution 9615 which ruled that national candidates have a total of 120 minutes airtime for political advertisement on all television stations and 180 minutes for all radio stations.

Local candidates meanwhile have 60 minutes for television and 90 minutes for radio.

The new aggregate rule had also previously been questioned by GMA and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) at the Comelec saying that it would not give the candidates enough exposure to bring their platform to the public.

They requested Comelec to revert to the “per station” rule used in the past elections.

The Comelec, during a previous en banc public hearing, maintained their position saying that the rule was specifically meant to “level the playing field” and to prevent the abuse of rich politicians who purchase a lot of airtime from several TV networks.

Brillantes also questioned during the hearing why media networks were the ones complaining to the Comelec about the new rule when the candidates themselves were okay with it.