Senator Chiz Escudero welcomed the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) ruling shortening the airtime that a political candidate may buy for campaign ads, saying the move would level the playing field for all candidates.
“Those who have deep resources will no longer lord over the airwaves and leave those who have meager resources way, way behind,” Escudero said at the Senate’s weekly Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
“At least no single candidate can put one over the other in terms of airtime. It’s a fair game for everyone, it’s a welcome thing,” he added.
But the senator also said the Comelec’s regulations on internet campaigning remains a vague issue, given the innovative concept of the internet technology.
Comelec Resolution 9615, which covers the airtime acquisition ceiling, said “online advertisement, whether procured by purchase, or given free of charge, shall not be published more than three times a week per website during the campaign period.”
Chairman Sixto Brillantes said online election propaganda include ads posted on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
Escudero said internet regulations have many loopholes, and the Comelec has not yet developed the core competence to provide and define standards for its usage.
“It leaves more questions than answers. How can Comelec monitor it? For example, how do they count the minutes used by a particular candidate? What if someone uploads an ad without the candidate’s knowledge or permission? Will that be counted against his airtime? What if ill-meaning protagonists will use this free uploading just to discredit a political rival? These are realities that I hope the Comelec will tread with caution and consideration,” Escudero said.
In Aklan, the Comelec laws, rules and regulations are being violated left and right. Can the Comelec implement these laws? Very doubtful. There must be implementers to compel all to obey the laws. However, the Comelec does not have them.
Shooting In Cebu Court
Senator Chiz Escudero slammed the shooting incident inside the Metropolitan Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6 in Cebu City which left three people dead – including the shooter and one person injured.
Escudero, chairman of Senate committee on Justice and Human Rights, said, “this incident is upsetting. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all the victims. The shooting incident should not have happened, inside a judicial court at that. What irony it is that it happened inside a place of refuge for justice, a place where legal rights are emphasized.”
The shooter, Canadian national John Pope, shot dead Dr. Rene Rafols and his lawyer, Giovanni Achas, while a hearing on a case against the shooter was going on.
Pope was being sued by Rafols for malicious mischief.
Reports said after shooting the two victims, Pope turned on other people in the courtroom, and shot and injured Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Maria Teresa Casiňo.
A responding policeman shot Pope, who died while receiving treatment at a hospital.
The senator expressed concern over the security in judicial courts all over the Philippines. Escudero noted the members of the judiciary are in constant threat, and that many have been killed in relation to the cases they handled.
“Members of the judiciary have to look over their backs constantly due to threats to their lives. They should not be subjected anymore to this same kind of unease once they step into our judicial courts. There should not be any threats anymore,” Escudero said.
He called for a stricter imposition of security arrangements in courts, maximizing the use of physical and electronic deterrents and other security equipment.
“Our courts should be insulated from threats, harms for everyone. We must ensure that all courts are orderly and safe where the public can take refuge, and ascertain that within its halls their rights are protected and emphasized,” Escudero said. /MP
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