Brillantes: Showing of candidate's biopic legal but 'a breach of delicadeza'

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not consider the showing of the life story of a candidate as an election violation, only “a clear breach of delicadeza.”   “Wala naman kasing bawal ngayon. Walang namang premature [campaigning]. Pwede lahat 'yan,” said Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Monday. On Saturday, Brillantes tweeted that the “showing at this time of a paid campaign ad in the guise of a 'biography' maybe legal, but a clear breach of delicadeza.” He was responding to questions posed by netizens regarding the showing of the life story of senatorial candidate Grace Poe-Llamanzares on TV.   On Monday, Brillantes admitted that many candidates are taking advantage of the fact that it is not yet the campaign period.   The campaign period for the senators and party-list groups will start on February 12, while for congressional and local candidates it will be on March 29.   Under Comelec Resolution 9615, national candidates are allowed 120 minutes of total television airtime and 180 minutes of total radio airtime, while local candidates are given 60 minutes for television and 90 minutes for radio. Brillantes said they will be strict once the campaign period starts.   “Bawal lahat 'yang mga ginagawa nila pagdating sa campaign period. Tuturuan ba naman natin sila? Alam naman nila na tine-take advantage na nila ngayon 'yan kasi wala namang premature campaigning. Matagal nang ganyan 'yan. Pagdating ng campaign period kami naman ang maghihigpit,” he said. The 2006 Supreme Court decision Lanot vs. Comelec states that political promotion done outside the campaign period forms part of the aspirants’ “freedom of expression.” In the 2009 decision Peñera vs. Comelec, the high court ruled that elective aspirants can promote themselves before the scheduled campaign period since they are not yet considered candidates at the time. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News