Keep playing field
level, celebrities told
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday told celebrities running for elective positions in May 2010 not to use their media exposure as an advantage against their opponents.
"There is a need to exercise utmost prudence in the practice of your profession after you have filed your certificate of candidacy and see to it that you do not, in any way, directly or indirectly engage in partisan political activity," Poll Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said.
The filing of COCs is from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1.
Celebrities like re-electionist Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Ara Mina, Alfred Vargas and Maybelyn dela Cruz already sought advice from the Comelec on whether they should take a leave of absence from their profession.
Larrazabal said resignation or leave of absence of actors or actresses from their profession will be compulsory only once the campaign period begins.
The official campaign period for position of president, vice president, senators and party-lists is from Feb. 9 to May 8.
The campaign period for local positions is from March 26 to May 8.
"However, they still have to comply with provisions on the Omnibus Election Code prohibiting campaigning or engaging in partisan political activity outside of the campaign period," Larrazabal noted.
Based on the Omnibus Election Code "partisan political activity" is defined as any act "directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate."
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