Lower poll spending limit? Joke!

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillante. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Thursday broached the idea of extending the campaign period and lowering the spending limit to P2 per voter to ensure fair play between rich and poor candidates.

Brillantes framed this as a “joke” but otherwise appeared serious in making the suggestion in response to questions on the Supreme Court decision striking down a portion of a 2013 Comelec resolution that limited the airtime of political advertisements.

On the sidelines of the deliberations on the Comelec’s proposed P16.9-billion budget, Brillantes said the Fair Election Act was supposed to equalize conditions among candidates across income classes; hence, such a move might be necessary.

“I’m joking now… if [candidates] will [now] have unlimited airtime, we suggest that instead of increasing the spending limit, we lower it to P2 per voter,” he told reporters in an interview.

Under the law, all candidates, except for president and vice president, may spend P3 per voter, while political parties may spend P5 per voter. Presidential and vice presidential candidates are allowed to spend up to P10 per voter.

As a result of the high court’s decision, the public should expect to be bombarded with political advertisements in the coming months as the 2016 elections draw near, Brillantes said.

However, the election chief said would-be candidates, while they are practically given a free reign in coming out with political advertisements, will be held accountable if they will overspend.

Laguna Gov. Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito was ousted by the Comelec last May after he was found to have overspent during the 2013 polls.

Ejercito was found to have spent P23.5 million for his campaign despite having a P4.5-million campaign spending limit.

Another way to level the playing field is to lengthen the campaign period, such that someone who files a candidate of candidacy in October will already be considered an official candidate and subject to the spending limit, Brillantes said.