Comelec on checking pre-campaign ads of top spenders: Wala tayong magagawa

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday clarified that it cannot check if poll candidates are spending beyond their means on campaign advertisements, especially those made before the start of the campaign period.

"Doon sa tanong na anong gagawin ng Comelec, unfortunately wala tayong magagawa kasi wala namang pakialam ang Comelec sa SALN [Statement of Asset, Liabilities, and Net Worth]. Hindi kami involved sa pagkukuto ng SALN or pagche-check if sila ba ay living within their means," Jimenez told GMA News' Unang Balita.

"Doon sa tanong na pa'no nangyari, hindi naman natin ine-expect na ginagastos nila ang sarili nilang pera. Meron silang mga donor, may mga sponsor 'yan at doon nanggagaling siguro 'yung bulto ng gastusin," he added.

This came after the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) released a report about senatorial candidates' spending on political advertisements.

The PCIJ claimed that the top spenders have exceeded the net worth which was declared in their SALN.

Jimenez said the PCIJ  report on the spending was "before the campaign period."

"Unfortunately ang Comelec nagmo-monitor lamang from the start of the campaign period hanggang sa matapos. So premature campaign spending ito at ito ang pinupunto naming problema ng ating electoral system at batas," he said.

Jimenez earlier admitted that rules and regulations about election campaigning, including the rule on spending limit, are dated and must be updated.

He then urged Filipino voters to be think hard on who to vote in the May midterm elections.

"Dapat po suriin nating maiigi ang ating mga kandidato, tingnan natin 'yung lumalabas na balita sa kanilang gawain, tungkol sa kanilang posisyon sa iba't-ibang mga isyu na very relevant sa buhay natin ngayon," he said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News