Osmeña Welcomes SC order suspending COMELEC Resolution Over Air-time Limits

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña welcomed the Supreme Court’s order suspending the implementation of the Comelec resolution that imposed limits on the air time that the candidates can enjoy for their campaign advertisements on broadcast media, but his next problem is where he gets the thousands of pesos budget.

The Supreme Court had issued a status quo ante order on the Comelec resolution which imposed limits on the air time of candidates, meaning the candidates for the May 13 Automated Local and National Elections can now spend even millions of pesos for their political campaign advertisements in radio and televisions if they want it.

“That’s one part solved, now I have to find the millions,” said the south district lawmaker who is challenging the reelection bid of Mayor Michael Rama.

The Comelec resolution that was ordered suspended by the High Court allowed the national candidates to acquire 120 minutes of air time for television and 180 minutes for radio while the local candidates were allowed 60 minutes of exposure for television and 90 minutes for radio.

Such resolution is aimed to give fair play to poor candidates who could not afford to spend millions of pesos for their air time in broadcast advertisement as against the rich candidates who can find ways on how to deviate the law.

Osmeña said he received report that his opponent had spent over P6 million just for the campaign posters and other print advertisements, excluding several radio blocktime programs.

The Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauwagan (BOPK), however, also has its own radio programs. –