Brillantes says 'epal' posters cheapen electoral process

MANILA, Philippines - Apparently resigned to the proliferation of posters and streamers bearing the faces of government officials and politicians, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes lamented yesterday that there is one way to deal with erring politicians – “remember their faces now and forget their names come election day.”

Brillantes posted on his new Twitter account his dismay over the proliferation of political campaign materials disguised as posters and banners and the Comelec’s lack of authority to go after the politicians that are also called “Epal.”

Epal is short for “mapapel” or posturing by desperate people trying to do everything just to be recognized.  

“Epal posters cheapen our electoral process as if these candidates are supermarket commodities that need to be advertised,” Brillantes said.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had filed Senate Bill 1967 or the anti-epal bill, which seeks to prohibit public officials “from claiming credit through signage announcing a public works project.”

The proposed legislation only allows signs that would bear the name or image or logo of the government agencies handling the project.

Brillantes admitted that the poll body could not go after these erring officials after the Supreme Court decriminalized premature campaigning in the Rosalinda Penera vs. Comelec case in 2009.

Penera was a candidate for mayor in Sta. Monica, Surigao del Norte in the 2007 elections. After filing her certificate of candidacy (COC) in March that year, she joined a motorcade that announced her candidacy. 

A disqualification case was filed against Penera but the SC had ruled in favor of her.

This means that since the filing of COCs for the 2013 polls will be from Oct. 1 to 5, candidates would not commit premature campaigning even if they campaign before the scheduled campaign period that begins on Feb. 12 for senatorial and party-list candidates and March 29 for congressional and local posts.

“With no law punishing/prohibiting it, Comelec cannot run after candidates campaigning prematurely. With this, I strongly support and urge the passage of the (anti-epal) bill,” he added.

He maintained that the long-term solution is for Congress to reenact or pass a law prohibiting/punishing premature campaigning.

Brillantes had opened his own Twitter account to provide the public with a venue to communicate with him.

“I know there are many questions about the coming elections so through Twitter, I hope I can answer them. The same way that I also have many things to say to them,” he added. 

COC filing

The period for filing certificates of candidacy (COC) has been shortened to Oct. 1 to 5.

Brillantes said yesterday offices receiving COCs will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the five-day period. 

The poll body will no longer entertain midnight filers, he added.

The schedule has been adjusted to avoid last-minute rush, Brillantes said.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 9518, “any person holding a public appointive office or position, including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other officers and employees in government-owned or controlled corporations, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office and must vacate the same at the start of the day of the filing of his certificate of candidacy.”

The policy does not cover elected officials.

COC forms will soon be available in Comelec offices for free or may be downloaded from http://www.comelec.gov.ph, Brillantes said.