Comelec: Variety show guesting allowed but will be counted against candidate's airtime limit

Senatorial candidates are not prohibited from appearing on variety shows but their guesting will be considered campaigning and "will most likely" be counted against their alloted airtime limit, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.

“Guesting on variety shows is NOT prohibited. But it will most likely be counted against a candidate's airtime limits,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez posted on his Twitter account.

He said the television appearance is not a violation of election rules “for as long as duration of exposure is properly reported.”

Jimenez made the statement after senatorial candidates Ernesto Maceda and Risa Hontiveros appeared as guests in “Wowowillie” on TV5 and “Gandang Gabi Vice” on ABS-CBN, respectively, over the weekend.

A notice that states “Political advertisement paid for Ana Theresia Hontiveros, 1 Maestranza cor Escuela street, New Intramuros, Quezon City. Political advertisement paid by Marie Chris Manzano Cabreros, 3613 Madasalin street, Brgy. Sikatuna QC” was posted when Hontiveros first appeared onscreen.

Jimenez said he already asked the two programs, through Twitter, copies of the respective episodes where the candidates appeared.

“I have asked, via twitter, both #GGV and #wowowillie to provide @comelec copies of their respective episodes where they guested candidates,” he said.

He said he needs the copies to verify how long the exposures of the two candidates were.

Jimenez said if the guesting is accompanied by the “pol ad paid for” notice, it will be counted against the airtime limit. “[I]f not, appearance must be evaluated,” he added.

For the 2013 midterm elections, the Comelec has put the airtime limit of candidates to an aggregate of 120 minutes for television while 180 minutes for radio for national candidates, and 60 minutes and 90 minutes, for television and radio, respectively, are given to local candidates. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News