The Fair Election Act

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The promulgation of the rules and regulations implementing the Fair Election Act paved the way to a fair and honest synchronized national and local election in the country Republic Act No. 9006 provides for the holding of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections through fair election practices, and that, for purposes of the May 14 elections, political advertisements or propaganda for or against any candidate or political party shall be published or broadcast through mass media.

Sec. 6.4 of RA 9006, directs the Commission on Elections to supervise the use and employment of press, radio and television facilities insofar as the placement of political advertisements to give candidates equal opportunities under equal circumstances to make known their qualifications and stand on public issues.

But Section 20 of the rules and regulations entitles all registered political parties and bona fide candidates the right to reply to charges published or aired against them. Meaning, these candidates do not have to pay for the space in the newspapers and the airtime for broadcast with the same prominence in the same page, or in the same time slot.

Another prohibited act during public meetings, which the Comelec considers unlawful is "to give or accept, free of charge, directly or indirectly, transportation, food and drinks, or anything of value during and within the five hours before and after a public meeting, or to give or contribute, directly or indirectly, money or things of value for such purpose."

We find this hard to believe because majority of the candidates are spending millions of pesos on political advertisement in the broadcast media, which is legal and only a few thousands in the print media. On the other hand, if this money were spent directly on the constituents, the law prohibits it.

We hope and pray for the holding of free and credible elections without ballot switching in our country to honestly and religiously implement the rules and regulations prescribed under RA 9006.*