Bill Against Premature Campaigning

   Senator Santiago said she would file a bill regarding of the stopping of the premature campaigning of candidates. She said that before filing the certificate of candidacy, the would-be candidates would file CIRPO(Certificate of Intent to Run for Public Office). The candidates would be prevented in the following: Endorsing any product or service, paid or unpaid; accepting any employment in any media outfit as news anchor, writer or talent; buying media space to advertise himself or a product or service, and engaging in any activity that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) considers premature campaigning. “Once a person files his certificate, he falls under all the legal prohibitions against premature campaigning,” she said.

On the COMELEC side, Sarmiento said,  Early campaigning is part of candidates' “freedom of expression,” since they have no prohibitions against that, the aspirants can promote themselves before the scheduled campaign starts, since, they are not yet OFFICIAL CANDIDATES. Sarmiento does not agrees with premature campaigning, since it can only benefit those who have many money. Sarmiento recommended the “Anti-Epal Bill”, which would punish those whose FACES are in the big tarpaulins and many ads. Senate Bill No. 1967 seeks to penalize the act of affixing the name or image of any public official to a signage announcing a proposed or ongoing public works project. The bill also directs the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Metro Manila Development Authority to remove all existing signages of public works projects bearing the name or image of public officers.“Makakatulong ang anti-epal bill para maregulate natin ang unnecessary media exposure”, Sarmiento said. He added that the bill would level the playing field for both the poor and the resource-rich candidates.

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