The Philippine Online Chronicles

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Television giants GMA 7 and ABS-CBN 2 have already issued their official statements, albeit with differing views, on the recent Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling seeking to ban celebrity endorsers from their TV shows during the campaign period.

The campaign period for national candidates started on February 9 and will end on May 8, two days before the nationwide voting.

Most celebrities endorsing political candidates for the May 10 elections are from the two leading television networks.

The ruling is based on the Fair Elections Act, or Republic Act 9006, which provides that: “Any mass media columnist, commentator, announcer, reporter, on-air correspondent or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office or is a campaign volunteer for or employed or retained in any capacity by any candidate or political party shall be deemed resigned, if so required by their employer, or shall take a leave of absence from his/her workas such during the campaign period.”

Violators of this rule could face one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement (loss of the right to vote) and disqualification from holding public office.

GMA Network statement:

In compliance with the Comelec ruling, the GMA Network said it had already advised its talents who continue to endorse and support candidates to take a leave of absence for the duration of the campaign period.

“GMA Network is advising its talents that they have to take a leave of absence if they continue to campaign for or endorse candidates or political parties during the campaign period, even if the taping of their participation in the promotion or plug of the candidate was done before the campaign period,” the network's official statement read.

Also, the network advised its talents who may have appeared in commercial endorsements prior to January 9 (the start of the campaign period) to notify their candidates to stop airing the said campaign plugs.

Endorsers from the Kapuso roster of stars include: singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, "Asia's songbird" Regine Velasquez, showbiz couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera for Sen.Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III; and comedian Michael V for Sen. Manny Villar.

ABS-CBN Network statement:

Rival network ABS-CBN 2, on the other hand, pointed out a “loophole” in the latest Comelec ruling, according to a statement it sent to showbiz website starmometer.com, which read:

"The call for ABS-CBN talents who endorse candidates to go on leave during the campaign period is not required by the Fair Election Act or its implementing rules and regulations. Section 36 of Comelec Resolution No. 8758 in relation to Section 1(4) thereof and the Fair Election Act merely requires that media practitioners such as talents 'shall not use his/her time or space to favor any candidate.' In this regard, it is ABS-CBN’s policy that its talents may not use any program to endorse or promote any candidate. This policy is strictly enforced by the network.”

The network's management also stated that since talents [actors] are not considered “employees” of the network, they are not covered by the poll body's ruling.

ABS-CBN also maintained that its talents have been prohibited to use its programs and platforms to favor any candidate, political party or partylist organization long before the campaign period began.

Celebrity endorsers from the Kapamilya network include: “Comedy King” Dolphy, Willie Revillame, and Sarah Geronimo for Villar; 'Megastar' Sharon Cuneta and talk-show hosts Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda for Aquino and singer ]]Gary Valenciano]] for Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Stars reject Comelec gag rule

Meanwhile, the Film Academy of the Philippines, headed by actor Leo Martinez, rejected the Comelec ruling, citing that it is “detrimental to freedom of expression.”

"This is wrong. We all have choices. Freedom of expression applies to all,” he declared.

Martinez also observed the “haziness” in the law's provisions. “[The law] is not clear, it is very ambiguous. It doesn't state who or what is covered specifically... somebody who appears on print ads? On commercials. Employed or merely commissioned? What if I just stand beside the candidate on the same stage because I believe in him or her/ can I be held liable? I don't think that is right. [The Comelec] should clear this first.”

Re-electionist Senator Lito Lapid also slammed the poll body's ruling:

"Why do actors always get the grilling? Actors who endorse candidates are merely doing it as livelihood and the politicians getting their services are paying for it willingly so... I see no problem,” the former action star said in Filipino.

Another actor, Vice-presidential candidate Edu Manzano, through lawyer Romulo Macalintal, requested the Comelec to temporarily suspend the implementation of the said Act.

Macalintal said that Manzano's appeal is not only for himself, as an actor, but also in defense of his fellow celebrities who would be “deprived” of their source of livelihood once the rule takes effect.

"See you in jail" - Kris

With her trademark defiance, “Queen of Talk” Kris Aquino, younger sister of Liberal Party presidentiable Noynoy Aquino, said she is ready to go to jail to protest the Comelec ruling.

Kris stars in three Kapamilya shows: daily primetime talk show "Showbiz News Ngayon," primetime soap "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo," and showbiz program "The Buzz" on Sundays. She is also slated to judge the upcoming "Pilipinas Got Talent" this month.

"Hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit kinu-curtail ang freedom of expression natin and my right as a Filipino citizen to vote and to express who I am voting for,” she said.

Kris likened the new regulation to “martial law” when people were restrained from the exercise of their liberties.

"Hindi talaga ako agree. Pero sinasabi ko nga na kung sa pakikipaglaban ng karapatan kong bumoto at karapatan kong pantao guaranteed by the Constitution at gusto nila akong ikulong... so Quezon City Jail, see you.”