QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9006)
The State must supervise or regulate the enjoyment/utilization of all franchises or permits for the operation of media of communication or information to guarantee equal opportunity, including access to media time and space and the equitable right to reply, for public information campaigns and fora among candidates, to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.
Election propaganda is allowed for registered political parties and bona fide candidates subject to limits on authorized expenses, observance of truth in advertising, and COMELEC supervision/regulation.
It must bear the reasonably legible/audible words “political advertisement paid for,” followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit it was printed or aired; if free broadcast airtime is provided, it must identify the station/entity that provided it free of charge.
It must be identified by the words “airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge by” followed by the true and correct name and address of the broadcast entity.
No. Donated advertisements may not be printed/published/broadcast/exhibited without the written acceptance by the candidate or political party, attached to the advertising contract and submitted to COMELEC as required.
The sponsor/commissioner or payer; the pollster/polling firm or organization; the period of survey and methodology (including number of respondents and areas) and specific questions; the margin of error; any per-question margin of error if greater; and a mailing address and telephone number for contacting the sponsor to obtain a written report.
Surveys affecting national candidates may not be published 15 days before election; surveys affecting local candidates may not be published 7 days before election.
Pollsters must not survey within 50 meters of polling places; must wear distinctive clothing; must inform voters they may refuse to answer; results may be announced only after polls close, must identify total respondents and places, and must state it is unofficial and does not represent a trend.
Equal access to media time and space—candidates/parties must receive equal opportunities under equal circumstances, within limits set by election law and COMELEC regulation.
They shall not exceed 1/4 page in broadsheets and 1/2 page in tabloids, thrice a week per newspaper/magazine/other publication.
National: up to 120 minutes TV and 180 minutes radio (purchase or donation). Local: up to 60 minutes TV and 90 minutes radio (purchase or donation).
They must submit a copy of broadcast logs and certificates of performance for review/verification of frequency, date, time, and duration of advertisements broadcast for any candidate or political party.
They must furnish COMELEC a copy of all contracts for advertising, promoting, or opposing any political party or candidacy within five (5) days after signing; the contract must be signed by the donor and candidate concerned (or authorized representative of the political party).
No franchise or permit to operate a radio or television station shall be granted or issued, suspended, or cancelled during the election period.
A media practitioner who is a candidate or a campaign volunteer/employee/retained by a candidate or political party is deemed resigned if required by the employer or must take a leave of absence during the campaign period; if the practitioner is an official/member of the campaign staff, they must not use time/space to favor any candidate or political party.
All registered parties and bona fide candidates have the right to reply to charges published/aired against them; the reply must be given publicity by the same newspaper/TV/radio station with the same prominence or in the same page/section/time slot as the initial statement.
Television 30% discount, radio 20% discount, and print 10% discount over the average rates charged during the first three quarters of the calendar year preceding the elections.
Votes cast for the substituted candidates are considered stray votes and do not invalidate the whole ballot; ballots should provide spaces where voters may write the name of substitute candidates (except where the substitute shares the same family name).