Press Release
November 6, 2012

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on the use of mainstream and social media
in preparation for the 2013 elections

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (ASC): There are also issues of leveling the playing field or equal opportunity in other countries like the United States, from the Kennedys to the Clintons to the Bushes. There will always be debates when we talk about political dynasties or methods of campaigning and the use of traditional and social media to reach people.

I don't blame the congressmen for looking negatively into the use of ads. But that's because they have a local constituency and they can go around and really explain to each and everyone an issue of interest.

Pero kung maranasan nila kung paano maging national official o candidate na kakailanganing ikutin ang buong Pilipinas at marating ang milyong Pilipinong nasa iba't ibang probinsiya at abroad, makikita nila na mas cost-efficient at effective na magkaroon ng mga ads o gamitin ang teknolohiya at media.

It seems on the surface that it (the proposal to regulate the use of ads) is good but it does not seem practical. In fact, if you do that, election campaigns will become more expensive.

Isipin mo kasi ang kailangang gastusin ng isang kandidato at isang nagpopromote ng advocacy sa buong Pilipinas. Parang pang-commercial na produkto din yan na isipin mo kung sasabihin mo sa iba pang mga kompanya na bawal na silang mag-advertise at gawin nalang ay umikot sa buong bansa at magsmall-town gatherings. It is just not pragmatic.

Reporter: Ano po yung sinasabi nila na nagagamit po ang mga advocacies sa pagkampanya? At ito po ba ay pre-mature o early campaigning?

ASC: The idea of "early campaigning" is an outdated concept. Wala na kasing early campaigning ngayon at iyan ang realidad. Pero minsan kasi yan ang ginagawang issue. Tingnan niyo sa America, one year and a half bago eleksyon, nag-umpisa na ang campaign para sa presidency samantalang apat na taon lamang ang termino ng isang presidente doon.

Kaya noong tinanong ko directly si Chairman Sixto Brillantes: "Chairman, bilang election lawyer, anong advice mo sa iyong kandidato? Kailan ba nagsisimulang mangampanya?"

Sabi niya, "Candidates are always campaigning... it is open to everybody to take advantage of the fact that there is no premature campaigning."

-end-

BACKGROUNDER:

EXCERPT from the transcript of the Oct 11, 2012 Hearing on the 2013 Comelec Budget:

Senator Drilon: XXX Because of the ruling in the Penera case in the Supreme Court, may the Chair request the Comelec for guidance of the political parties and the candidates of a resolution, if not is yet existing, which would tell us what are the prohibited acts between now and the election (sic) period? Because this is something new to us, The Penera decision said that you can do anything before the campaign period. I do not know if my interpretation is correct, that's how I read the Supreme Court. Would it be possible for the Comelec to issue some guidelines to the political parties and the candidates on what they cannot do during the next weeks before actual start of the campaign period? Because my impression of under the Penera doctrine is we can do anything. So tell us what we cannot do so that we will be on the safe side. Is that feasible Chairman Brillantes?

Chairman Brillantes: Yes your honor. The Penera doctrine is really, it says - it actually abolishes premature campaigning which means that anything can be done and we don't really have any control. This is precisely what the Penera doctrine says that you become officially and legally a candidate only at the start of the campaign period. And therefore, even if you have filed your certificate of candidacy as early as now, you are not yet a candidate, and therefore, there is no prohibition against anybody.

XXX

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