Namfrel sees surge in political ads during holidays

MANILA, Philippines - Political advertisements are expected to surge this Yuletide season as candidates in the 2016 elections take advantage of the occasion by campaigning in the guise of sending out holiday greetings, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said yesterday.

“Even as early as now they are already surging, both subtle and not subtle,” Namfrel secretary general Eric Alvia said yesterday.

Although the official campaign period will start on Feb. 9, 2016, national and local candidates have released their respective campaign ads.

 “We should actually term it as unethical campaigning since there’s no such thing as premature campaigning,” Alvia said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) admitted that it is powerless to stop premature campaigning.

Comelec officials said the Poll Automation Law provides that “any person who files his certificate of candidacy (COC) shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period” and that “unlawful acts applicable to a candidate shall be in effect only upon start of the campaign period.”

But Namfrel is undertaking a “shame campaign” in the social media to encourage citizens to post pictures or videos of politicians engaging in unethical campaigning on the Eleksyon 2016 Pampams’ Facebook page or at Twitter by using #pampam.

Alvia said while Namfrel’s shame campaign is successful, it cannot hold legally accountable the candidates who have engaged in unethical and premature campaigning.

“The campaign brought out awareness that many do not sit well with it. The problem is in the enforcement. What are you going to do with it?” he said.

“The best is don’t vote for them. It would send the signal. That is enough consequence (for unethical campaigning),” he added.