TV debates part of bets’ ad airtime

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairman Andres Bautista. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

JOINING more televised debates? Be careful.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Sunday reminded candidates in the May 9 balloting that exposure through televised debates not sanctioned by the poll body would be deducted from their advertising airtime.

“By and large, the Comelec wants more debates [because] it’s better. But we also have regulations regarding these that need to be followed. All debates that are not Comelec-enabled shall be deducted from their limits,” said the poll body’s chair, Andres Bautista.

Bautista has learned that several media outfits were planning to stage more debates after the Comelec debate series aimed at helping voters to know more about the presidential and vice presidential candidates and their platforms.

The third Comelec-sanctioned presidential debate is scheduled for April 24 at the University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City. It is expected to tackle issues involving traffic and public transportation, foreign policy, national defense, tax, electoral and political reforms.

The first debate for the five vice presidential candidates was held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila last week.

Bautista said candidates must be reminded that not all debates would be automatically exempted from the airtime limits provided under the Fair Elections Act.

Advertising rules

Under Comelec rules, national candidates and political parties are entitled to not more than 120 minutes of television ads on a per station basis and 180 minutes of radio commercials, also on a per station basis whether by purchase or donation.

Local candidates and registered political parties are also entitled to not more than 60 minutes of television ads on a per station basis and 90 minutes of radio commercials, also on a per station basis whether by purchase or donation.

Violation of the rules constitute an election offense, which carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification from public office and the removal of the right to vote.