KBP claims victory vs airtime limits

CEBU, Philippines - The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) claimed victory in the status quo ante order issued by the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections from implementing airtime limits on the campaign advertisements of candidates on television and radio.

KBP-Cebu chapter president Marlon Baula said that the high court's ruling validated their position on the unconstitutionality of the poll body's move to limit the airtime of candidates.

Comelec resolution 9615 limits the political advertisements of national candidates to 120 accumulated minutes for TV and 180 minutes for radio. Campaign advertisements of local candidates are also limited to 60 minutes for TV and 90 minutes for radio. Prior to the implementation of the campaign regulation, national and local candidates were entitled to the said minutes but for each media outlet.

Baula said this is not enough time for the public to hear the platforms of all candidates.

Comelec have imposed the airtime limit regulation in line with the fair elections act to level the playing field for all candidates as far as one's capacity to fund for his campaign.

Apart from KBP, other media outlets who filed cases against the Comelec in line with the limitation were GMA Network Inc., TV5, Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), and Bombo Radyo.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes earlier hit the media networks for opposing the airtime limits saying that, the media entities are basing their complaint on revenue loss.

Baula said this is definitely a misconception. Although admitting that the campaign regulation has an impact businesswise, Baula said this is also about principle.

He explained that with Comelec's regulation of airtime limits, it poses a big problem to the press' freedom since the limitation is a way of censorship.

Also, he said that since SC has released the order less than a month from the election, they would not be able to bring in more advertisements thus could not be alleged on opposing the airtime limits solely for money.

In contrary, Comelec Cebu Provincial Supervisor Eddie Aba said that he is saddened over the decision of SC since regulating airtime was a big help as far as maintaining fairness among candidates' campaign activities.

"The very purpose of the law is to give equal opportunities so candidates cannot make use of their resources to the disadvantage of the other candidates. So if you will take the limitations out, then that would defeat the purpose why Resolution 9006 (Fair elections act) was enacted."

Aba said there have been no reports yet of candidates in the province who have exceeded their airtime limits. Monitoring of advertisements are made by the Commission's Education and Information Department. — (FREEMAN)