Comelec urges lawmakers to review law on campaign spending limits

Voters exercise their rights for the Presidential Election on May 10, 2010 in the Philippines. First time that the Commission on Election will implement full automation. (Tony Magdaraog / Shutterstock)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urges lawmakers to revisit the law on campaign spending limits and make it more in tune with the times.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista is convinced that its time for the law to be reviewed and make it more realistic.

“We recognize that the current limits are not anymore realistic. And that’s why the Comelec has told Congress that perhaps it’s time to amend the law to set forth limits that are more in tune with the times,” he said.

Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim suported Bautista’s statement, noting that the law was already more than 20 years.

“If you look at the law right now, it’s a 1991 law setting this limit. So about 25 years have passed and we are still using the limit without considering inflation and other realities,” he said.

Lim also proposed for the creation of a tripartite body that will be mandated to set the campaign spending limit for every region and specific to a particular election year.

“For example, if you look at the minimum wage, magkakaiba ang mga regions. NCR (National Capital Region) is different from Abra. We are looking also at a flexible rate. Ibig sabihin for 2016 this is their rate. But it could be adjusted for 2019,” he said.

The poll body official cited several economic factors that can be used as basis in setting the spending limits, such as the consumer price index, voting population, inflation, minimum wage, and cost of living.

Republic Act 7166 provides that candidates are only allowed to spend Php 3 for every voter currently registered in the constituency, where he filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) plus another Php 5 from his political party; while independent candidates can spend up to Php 5 for every registered voter. Candidates for President and Vice-President are allowed to shell out Php 10 per registered voter.

Violators are liable for committing an election offense, which carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from holding public office.

Early this week, 36 candidates in the 2010 and 2013 elections were found to have violated the law while some 1,200 candidates are undergoing preliminary investigations at the Comelec Law Department for the same alleged violations.