Tina Tama, Boy Bawal show proper campaigning

MANILA, Philippines - Tina Tama and Boy Bawal are out to educate local candidates on the proper way to campaign.

Chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to come out with public service videos featuring Tina Tama and Boy Bawal to encourage candidates to comply with election regulations.

Tina Tama contradicts Boy Bawal: “Hindi naman lahat ay bawal, mayroon din tamang paraan ng pangangampanya (Not everything is prohibited, there is a right way to campaign).”

Brillantes said the Comelec expects more violations of election regulations since the campaign for local candidates has begun.

Violators will be charged accordingly, he added.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Boy Bawal is the Comelec’s poster boy on illegal campaigning, while Tina Tama outlines legal, proper and novel techniques that local candidates can adopt in the campaign.

Tina Tama encourages candidates to be creative in their campaign, and be informed as to the location of common poster areas that the Comelec has designated.

Candidates must seek the permission of owners if they want to place their campaign materials on private property, Tina Tama said.

Tina Tama also discourages vote buying.

“Alam niyo na ang bawal, kaya gawin lang ang tama. Para maging maayos ang eleksyon, simulan sa tamang pangangampanya (You already know what’s prohibited, so do what’s right. For the elections to be orderly, start with correct campaigning),” advise Boy Bawal and Tina Tama.

Meanwhile, Brillantes said the Comelec may deputize the Armed Forces and police to monitor violations of campaign rules.

The lack of manpower is slowing down their crackdown against illegal campaign posters, he added.

Brillantes said they are relying on the public to inform the Comelec of campaign violators.

The Comelec is not inclined to tap barangay officials because they usually favor certain local candidates, he added.

Brillantes said he hopes to prosecute as many campaign violators as possible.

“We cannot improve on the manpower situation,” he said. “We just have to move a little bit faster and concentrate on the filing of charges and send the subpoenas.”

The Comelec’s Law Department and the Education and Information Department have been ordered to monitor closely the local campaign and send out notices to erring candidates as early as possible, Brillantes said. – Mayen Jaymalin