SC ruling on political ads not final yet

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines  â€“ Dumaguete City election officer Jerome Brillantes on Tuesday issued a word of caution to broadcast journalists, radio and television station owners and managers in Negros Oriental to not get overexcited yet with the Supreme Court ruling stopping Comelec limitations on political campaign airtime and advertisements.

Brillantes said the Comelec is given 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration of the High Tribunal’s decision, and it is expected that the poll body, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, will most likely comply within the period.

Unless there is no motion for reconsideration after the 15 days grace period has lapsed, the Comelec prohibition for aggregated airtime for political ads for local and national candidates is still valid and binding, he said.

Brillantes appealed to the members of the broadcast industry in Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros Oriental to refrain from flooding the airwaves of political campaign materials or they could be in trouble with the law.

Local bets are allowed an aggregate total of 90 minutes for radio and 60 minutes for television while national bets are allowed a total of 120 minutes for radio and 180 minutes for television.  (FREEMAN)