What should be done about candidates found to have exceeded their allotted airtime on TV?

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Candidates found to have exceeded their allotted airtime on TV should be meted the penalty corresponding to their violation. Nobody is above the law.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: They must be penalized with outright disqualification. If the Comelec does not enforce the law, we should not vote for violators and teach them a hard lesson.

The Comelec should impose the law

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Penalize arrogant, abusive, moneyed candidates. Villar started his media blitz months ahead of his political rivals, ensuring name recall. Noynoy, on the other hand, has been brainwashing people that his parents’ legacy is enough reason for him to be elected as RP’s 15th president. These candidates blatantly ignoring the Comelec guidelines should be punished to ensure that aspirants are given equal airtime to level the playing field. Kaso, may magugulang talaga.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: The Comelec should impose the law. Confirmed violators must be disqualified.

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas: It’s about time the Comelec initiated punitive measures on candidates found circumventing the provisions of the law in cahoots with some TV networks.

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: Those guilty should be meted out the maximum penalty, up to and including total disqualification, regardless of how rich the candidate is or who his family is.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: The law is clear and specific. Impose appropriate sanctions to offenders and make the Comelec credible. Giving them leeway would send a wrong signal.

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: I think the answer to this question is very obvious. We have our election laws that should be observed by all candidates. The Comelec should implement the law on everyone, whether administration or opposition candidates, no ands, ifs or buts.

They should be disqualified

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: Nobody is above the law and if a candidate is exceeding the allotted airtime, the Comelec should disqualify him or her. A good leader is a good follower.

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: This is outlined clearly in the election code. What is so hard about applying it? Since it is in the election law, it should be applied, no matter who the violators are. Influential or not, they should receive the corresponding punishment. One of problems in this country is that the authorities have pampered those violating our laws for so long. 

Mandy Rillon, Cabanatuan City: The right thing to do is to disqualify such candidates, plain and simple. I believe, though, that the Comelec does not have the balls to do that. They can only implement disqualification if the offenders are small-time candidates.

Chris Navarro, Las Piñas City: Disqualify them. It’s as simple as that because that’s what the law says.

Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: The rules should be applied. Disqualify these violators.

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: The Comelec should warn and reprimand them. And if they continue to air campaign ads even though they have used up their allotted airtime, the poll body should disqualify them pronto. Penalties and fines would not suffice. If these candidates can make a mockery of election laws now, what more if they are elected into office?

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Disqualify them.

Mark Kevin Santos, Nueva Ecija: As of now, two presidentiables, Noynoy and Villar, are said to have exceeded their allotted airtime on TV. The Comelec must enforce the necessary action: Disqualify them. I think, however, that it will never happen. A battalion of people will surely oppose if one or both of them are disqualified from the presidential race. On the part of the Comelec, they must do their job. An aspiring president must be a role model to his people.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: They should be disqualified. The Comelec should be responsible in its implementation of the law. It’s unfair to the other presidential candidates.

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: Cancel their pork barrel tutal super yaman naman sila and disqualify them.

Anthony Solidum, Metro Manila: They should be disqualified for disobedience to our laws. Leaders must be law-abiding citizens.

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Disqualify them before the actual day of voting para di na bilangin ang mga boto nila at ang mananalo ay ‘yung hindi nag-overspend.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: By all means, the Comelec should charge them with violation of election guidelines. Disqualify them, if warranted.

Candidates should be issued a warning

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: The Comelec should write the candidate concerned, warning them from airing further ads. Exceeding the time limit is an election offense and offenders may face disqualification charges.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: The Comelec should make them explain their violation. If they deliberately broke the law, they should be punished.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: The Comelec should tell the candidates that they can’t campaign on TV anymore.

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: The Comelec should have informed the candidates that they’re about to exceed the allotted time to verify their data and to avert further complications.

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Admonish or reprimand these candidates only because we should be kind to these hard-headed animals. They can be given a stern warning.  

Bets must self-regulate

Abelardo Abilay, Laguna: First, the ones at fault must be warned. They must be asked why they exceeded their limit. If they have no convincing reason, they themselves must decide what type of penalty they should get. As early as now, presidential candidates must already be self-regulating nd uncorrupt. Filipinos are now vigilant and watchful of every step of the vying candidates.

The Comelec should show political will

Manny Cordeta, New York, USA: Faced with this particular problem, the Comelec’s political will is being put to the test. Therefore, the poll agency must act swiftly and punish all guilty parties. This could be the Comelec’s golden opportunity to show that it would never condone the flagrant violation of agreed provisions. In the final analysis, the Comelec would be able to proudly and courageously claim that it means business.

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Candidates that exceeded their allotted airtime on TV should be disqualified as this is a violation, but I wonder if the Comelec has the backbone to prove that it really means business.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: If the Comelec finds a candidate guilty of exceeding his allotted TV airtime, they have to disqualify him to prove that they can enforce their mandate to earn the trust and confidence of the people. In the first place, the candidates have to be role model citizens in observing the law; otherwise, they should be disqualified from holding any public office.

Felix Ramento, USA: This is not much of a concern under Philippine politics. However, unless the Comelec goes after and rejects candidates whose priorities are suspect given their excessive spending and vote-buying practices, the playing field can never be truly made even.

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: Comelec officials should exercise decisiveness and political will to disqualify these candidates. Voters should also dump these candidates, even if they spent P1.2 billion for airtime alone. Overspending is a clear indication of panggugulang over fellow candidates who have no money to spend. Only idiots will believe that the candidates that spend excessively will not try to recoup the money they spent.

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: The Comelec should apply the law. The front runners complain a lot, like crybabies, but they are the first to play around with the election law.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Based on Comelec election laws, guilty candidates must be prosecuted. No ifs, no buts. The commissioners must have the political will to implement the law.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It’s well within the jurisdiction of the Comelec to resolve the issue. These candidates who violated and exceeded their allotted airtime on TV will patently show their selfish motives just to get elected. Well, I believe karma will rule come May 10.

There are other more important issues

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: Unless something is done about candidates who should be disqualified but are not, the airtime issue is a trivial one and probably not worth taxpayers’ attention as there are other issues which are more important. By now, we know of candidates who have been allowed by the Comelec to run but have questionable credentials. Some candidates are known to have pending cases and some have even been convicted. There are those who reportedly lack the residency requirement and yet have been allowed to run. Isn’t due diligence of candidates a key homework of the Comelec, aside from choosing a most deserving poll automation service provider and being unbiased? It appears that the Comelec has been throwing the book at opposition candidates but has looked the other way when it comes to administration candidates. More blatantly, this once respectable institution has been disqualifying good public servants just months before the elections whose only “crime” has been their not towing the Malacañang line.

The Comelec should impose penalties

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: The Comelec should impose penalties. The Comelec should give penalties to candidates who do not conform to, adhere to and follow the laws and rules of the Comelec concerning the proper conduct of the campaign prior to the elections.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: They should suffer the consequences, if found guilty of the offense, regardless of who they are. They should be disciplined this early so that others won’t follow their example. There’s no reason for the Comelec not to implement the law on this matter. There’s no reason either for the candidates who violate the law not to be penalized. Ignorance of the law excuses no one.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: What’s the use of having rules if violators can still do what they want? Candidates found to have exceeded their Comelec allotment airtime on TV should be thrown the book. Rules are rules. However, the Comelec’s statement that Noynoy has exceeded his allotted airtime seems erroneous. LP’s campaign kitty is thin; it’s nothing compared to that of the party of Pres. Arroyo’s reported closet candidate.

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: They should play by the rules. They played; they must pay. Impose the necessary punishment.

Bernard Nillo, Bacnotan, La Union: Drastic steps should be taken against candidates who exceeded their airtime on TV. The Comelec must impose its rule on excessive campaign spending.

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: The Comelec should do something about candidates that exceed their allotted airtime on TV.

The Comelec will not do anything

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: I don’t think those candidates exceeding their time will be penalized. Not unless the Comelec has the backbone to implement the law. Sige nga, let’s see.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: The Comelec has been consistently regarded as toothless. If they could disqualify just one, preferably the top violator, then they would earn my respect.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: If the Comelec is constitutionally obliged to determine if there is excessive airtime on TV spent for each candidate, then it also has the power to disqualify them. But as of now, the Comelec is powerless in solving all election campaign irregularities.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Follow the law; disqualify them. But this will never happen in this country where money is above the law. Even if the evidence is clear, they are still made to appear as blurred and unclear. Many are blinded by money. Mark my word; nobody will be disqualified.

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I believe that it’s the dual responsibility of both the candidates and the TV channels. Thus, both should be penalized. But then, there are ways Filipinos can devise to go around the rules. Take, for example, the ban on campaigns and campaign materials before the official start of the campaign period. A lot of the candidates’ faces were still seen on posters and on TV in violation of the campaign ban dahil may palusot: Infomercials daw. In other cases, kunwari bumabati sa mga graduates, bumabati on certain occasions such as Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day during the long Philippine election season the longest in the world. That’s why I ask, can cases against them prosper? Subukan!

It’s also the network’s responsibility

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: If the candidate is found guilty, disqualify him. If it is the TV network that caused the excess of allotted TV airtime, they must be charged criminally and the candidate should be cleared. I wonder if the Comelec can really perform its mandate.

Ed Alawi, Davao City: Penalize the candidate, but not necessarily with disqualification from the race. Impose large fines on the TV station fully aware of the excessive airtime.

Randolph Hallasgo, Misamis Oriental: What can the Comelec do if they can afford to exceed their allotted time on TV? They can still appear on TV, not in political ads, but in TV appearances. It’s not the Comelec’s responsibility; it’s the network’s.

Easier to ask the networks to monitor

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Candidates found to have exceeded their TV airtime should be disqualified based on Comelec rules. The same goes for those who post oversized streamers or post outside areas designated by the Comelec. Disqualify also those that do not submit election income and expenses. If we do these, no candidates will be left. It has been this way ever since. Let it be. Let the circus continue. The Comelec should have foreseen the problem of excess airtime. It should have asked media outfits to monitor and limit each candidate’s airtime and fined the TV network heavily if they exceed. It’s easier to do this than to penalize the candidates, don’t you think so?

Who monitors whom?

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Who monitors whom? As soon as we know the answer, we can start making all sorts of suggestions as to what should be the appropriate action.

The bigger the spending, the more suspicious they get

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: I don’t understand why the Comelec can’t suspend candidates who don’t follow simple rules. These kinds of candidates don’t deserve to be voted, or else how can we expect them to implement and follow complex rules if they can’t even follow simple ones? The more they spend on expensive TV airtime, the more we are sure they will try to recover their expenses one way or another once they are elected.

Their spending is good for the economy

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: Nothing. Let them spend all their money even if it means going beyond what the law allows. It’s good for the economy as it creates and generates good business for the media firms, which, in turn, can pay more taxes to the government. Elections rules, like the limit on TV airtime, that cannot be strictly and realistically implemented should actually be disregarded and scrapped.

Pull out their TV ads from now on

Ed Alawi, Davao City: Pull out all TV ads until election day for those candidates who exceeded their allotted TV airtime.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Well, is that a big problem? If they exceeded, cut it or, better yet, pull them out.

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: For candidates who have exceeded their allotted time, the Comelec should order cutting off air time. It’s as simple as that. Or is it, really?

Time for Charter change

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City:  So what if a candidate exceeded his allotted airtime on TV as long as he pays for it? If the Comelec wants an equal playing field for candidates, they must first correct the Constitution’s ambiguities and loopholes that give rise to legal questions and dissenting interpretation. Is radio and TV allocation based on the number of minutes or on the amount paid? The allocation of P3 per voter must be reviewed in accordance to the current situation. What can P3 buy? Eliminate the parade of showbiz personalities to focus on crucial national policies, not cheap gimmickry, hatred and anger. 

Arlene Go, Manila: What’s wrong kung nag-exceed ang mga kandidato ng TV airtime, eh si GMA nga lumabag sa Constitution sa pagtakbo bilang Kongresista, wala naman pumuna.

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