Do you Agree that Celebrities Should go on Leave if they are Endorsing a Candidate?
Now, it is not only the PPCRV (Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) that is asking celebrities endorsing candidates to go on leave or just simply stop endorsing any candidates for the May 2010 elections, but the COMELEC (Commission on Elections) through its law department head Ferdinand Rafanan has already announced that it will strictly implement the Fair Election Act.
This law will therefore stops media personalities including celebrities from campaigning for politicians while at the same appearing on their regular TV shows and programs as “endorsing is campaigning’ according to the body. Media personalities are therefore asked to go on leave as a resolution was already handed down the poll body and even gave media outfits until February 13 to relay this information to their talents and abide by the law.
Section 6 (6.6) of the Fair Election Act or Republic Act No. 9006 states:
Any mass media columnist, commentator, announcer, reporter, on-air correspondent or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office or is a campaign volunteer for or employed or retained in any capacity by any candidate or political party shall be deemed resigned, if so required by their employer, or shall take a leave of absence from his/her work as such during the campaign period.
Anyone found and proven to have violated the law could be imprisoned from 1-6 years and will be stripped off his/her right to vote. Media outfits and TV stations who will not abide by the said law and will be proven to be using their shows to campaign for a candidate may face stiff sanctions and worse revocation of their franchise said Rafanan.
GMA7 for its part has already advised its talents of the said memorandum from the COMELEC while ABS-CBN is contesting the said mandate.
Almost all candidates most particularly Noynoy Aquino who has Kris Aquino as a number 1 supporter, are already against the law. Aquino and his camp are even contemplating of raising the issue to the Supreme Court to render the said act unconstitutional as it goes against the freedom of expression of people.
Obviously candidates are going to fight this issue as they have seen the great impact pinoy celebrities could give to their campaigns and victories.
COMELEC has warned that it will strictly implement the law. Let us see if we will soon see some celebrities spending some time behind bars.
How about you, do you agree that celebrities should go on leave if they are endorsing a particular candidate? Is this law reasonable?
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7 Comments
I’m also against this. Sobrang OA na ang COMELEC sa isyu na ito. Dami nilang dapat asikasuhin pati ba naman ito papatulan pa. Ayusin muna nila yung kaso ni Pagdanganan at Panlilio, aba eh botohan na naman di pa nakakaupo yung tunay na nanalo tsk tsk.
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Thanks sa comment Ambo
I am already excited kung sinong mga celebs ang ikukulong ng COMELEC. Unfortunately, this law is so vague kaya daming nagpoprotesta.
Wala na, taob na si Mendoza, Padaca at Panlilio. Lintik na COMELEC yan, after all the votes are counted biglang sa kahuli-hulihan sasabihin iba ang nanalo!
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Teka ako din ulitin ko lang LINITEK na COMELEC yan! Tagal ng mainit ulo ko sa mga yan hahaha
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I agree with this. There’s a cap on election spending on TV and other media ads, right? If the Comelec doesn’t enforce this law consistently, candidates with money to burn can easily circumvent that prohibition on overspending by having allied celebrities who are mainstays of mass media. Willie Revillame can don the orange tshirt and do his spiel on his favorite guy, and even without naming his presidential bet. The same can be said of Kris Aquino.
Allow these celebrities free rein and you put the less moneyed candidates at a disadvantage.
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But I think this law is quite vague…but as a rule, the law should be applicable to all. Let us see if the COMELEC will stand firm on this, although Noynoy is set to question the constitutionality of this one on the Supreme Court. Sympre, maraming artista siyang backer eh, ehehehe!
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How is Gibo doing as far as getting endorsements from celebrities? Does this make a significant effect on his standing? Still lackluster showing? Baka naman the admin is worried that this is the reason their guy is doing poorly. Had they enforced this law in the previous elections?
Another teka lang: Di ba covered ang blogging diyan? Of course, it doesn’t apply to me. I’m just a celeb blogger in my overheated imagination. LOL. I’m just thinking out loud. What if Krissy puts up a blog to campaign for his brother. Di pa rin ba considered as one of the mass media ang blogging? But then again you’re under nobody’s employ as a blogger so that’s a long shot.
Sige, endorse ka na, bro. Then hold a contest for readers. Guess how much Elmot is making for endorsing Jamby Madrigal. Then you put up a prize. Even a token one, if you can’ t part with your dollars stash. LOL.
Gibo so far is still on the lower end of the presidential race…for some pundits, a situation where he could already be considered as a loser. No celeb endorsements for him, except for a celebrity VP in the person of Edu Manzano.
Actually, that is a good point you raised bro. The Comelec is also studying the application of the Fair Elections Act on blogging and new media…but since the election act was crafted even before this new media has sprouted and has taken the center stage, they admitted that they have to work it out and study the issue very well, new media including blogging and all social networking sites are uncharted territories for them.
That is a great idea!!!!!! Grabe bakit di ko naisip yan ehhehhee! Brainstorm natin yang stunt na yan eheheh!
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