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Republic Act No. 9006· Enacted 2001-02-12

Fair Election Act (RA 9006) Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Ano ang pinapayagan at bawal sa eleksyon propaganda? Ang Fair Election Act ng Pilipinas, simplified para sa bawat botante.

ELI5ElectionsOFW RelevantelectionsCOMELECelection propaganda

Official text — Republic Act No. 9006

Jump to section ↓17 sections

Preamble

Eleventh Congress

REPUBLIC ACT 9006 February 12, 2001

AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE HOLDING OF FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS THROUGH FAIR ELECTION PRACTICES

Section 1

Section 1.

Short Title.

- This Act shall be known as the "Fair Election Act."

Section 2

Section 2.

Declaration of Principles.

– The Senate shall, during the election period, supervise or regulate the enjoyment or utilization of all franchises or permits for the operation of media of communication or information to guarantee or ensure equal opportunity for public service, including access to media time and space, and the equitable right to reply, for public information campaigns and for a among candidates and assure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.

The State shall ensure that bona fide candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of harassment and discrimination.

Section 3 — Lawful Election Propaganda.→

Section 3.

Lawful Election Propaganda.

– Election propaganda, whether on television, cable television, radio, newspapers or any other medium is hereby allowed for all registered political parties, national, regional, sectoral parties or organizations participating under the party list elections and for all bona fide candidates seeking national and local elective positions subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of candidates and political parties, observance of truth in advertising and to the supervision and regulation by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

For the purpose of this Act, lawful election propaganda shall include:

3.1. Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or printed materials the size of which does not exceed eight and one half inches in width and fourteen inches in length;

3.2. Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any particular political party or candidate for public office;

3.3. Cloth, paper or cardboard posters, whether framed or posted, with an area not exceeding two (2) feet by three (3) feet, except that, at the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally, or in announcing the holding of said meeting or rally, streamers not exceeding three (3) feet by eight (8) feet in size, shall be allowed:

Provided

, That said streamers may be displayed five (5) days before the date of the meeting or rally and shall be removed within twenty-four (24) hours after said meeting or rally;

3.4. Paid advertisements in print or broadcast media:

Provided

, That the advertisements shall follow the requirements set forth in Section 4 of this Act; and

3.5. All other forms of election propaganda not prohibited by the Omnibus Election Code or this Act.

Section 4 — Requirements for Published or Printed and Broadcast Election Propaganda.→

Section 4.

Requirements for Published or Printed and Broadcast Election Propaganda.

– 4.1. Any newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine advertising, posters, pamphlets, comic books, circulars, handbills, bumper stickers, streamers, sample list of candidates or any published or printed political matter and any broadcast of election propaganda by television or radio for or against a candidate or group of candidates to any public office shall bear and be identified by the reasonably legible or audible words "political advertisement paid for," followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit the election propaganda was printed or aired.

4.2. If the broadcast is given free of charge by the radio or television station, it shall 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.

4.3. Print, broadcast or outdoor advertisements donated to the candidate or political party shall not be printed, published, broadcast, or exhibited without the written acceptance by the said candidate or political party. Such written acceptance shall be attached to the advertising contract and shall be submitted to the COMELEC as provided in Subsection 6.3. hereof.

Section 5 — Election Surveys.→

Section 5.

Election Surveys.

– 5.1. Election surveys refer to the measurement of opinions and perceptions of the voters as regards a candidate's popularity, qualifications, platforms or a matter of public discussion in relation to the election, including voters' preference for candidates or publicly discussed issues during the campaign period (hereafter referred to as "Survey").

5.2. During the election period, any person, natural as well as juridical, candidate or organization who publishes a survey must likewise publish the following information:

(a) The name of the person, candidate, party or organization who commissioned or paid for the survey;

(b) The name of the person, polling firm or survey organization who conducted the survey;

(c) The period during which the survey was conducted, the methodology used, including the number of individual respondents and the areas from which they were selected, and the specific questions asked;

(d) The margin o error of the survey;

(e) For each question for which the margin of error is greater than that reported under paragraph (d), the margin of error for that question; and

(f) A mailing address and telephone number, indicating it as an address or telephone number at which the sponsor can be contacted to obtain a written report regarding the survey in accordance with Subsection 5.3.

5.3. The survey together with raw data gathered to support its conclusions shall be available for inspection, copying and verification by the COMELEC or by a registered political party or a bona fide candidate or by any COMELEC-accredited citizen's arm. A reasonable fee sufficient to cover the costs of inspection, copying and verification may be charged.

5.4. Surveys affecting national candidates shall not be published fifteen (15) days before an election and surveys affecting local candidates shall not be published seven (7) days before an election.

5.5. Exit polls may only be taken subject to the following requirements:

(a) Pollsters shall not conduct their surveys within fifty (50) meters from the polling place, whether said survey is taken in a home, dwelling place and other places;

(b) Pollsters shall wear distinctive clothing;

(c) Pollsters shall inform the voters that they may refuse to answer; and

(d) The result of the exit polls may be announced after the closing of the polls on election day, and must clearly identify the total number of respondents, and the places where they were taken. Said announcement shall state that the same is unofficial and does not represent a trend.

Section 6 — Equal Access to Media Time and Space.→

Section 6.

Equal Access to Media Time and Space.

– All registered parties and bona fide candidates shall have equal access to media time and space. The following guidelines may be amplified on by the COMELEC.

6.1. Print advertisements shall not exceed one-fourth (1/4) page, in broad sheet and one-half (1/2) page in tabloids thrice a week per newspaper, magazine or other publications, during the campaign period.

6.2. (a) Each bona fide candidate or registered political party for a nationally elective office shall be entitled to not more than one hundred twenty (120) minutes of television advertisement and one hundred eighty (180) minutes of radio advertisement whether by purchase or donation.

(b) Each bona fide candidate or registered political party for a locally elective office shall be entitled to not more than sixty (60) minutes of television advertisement and ninety (90) minutes of radio advertisement whether by purchase or

For this purpose, the COMELEC shall require any broadcast station or entity to submit to the COMELEC a copy of its broadcast logs and certificates of performance for the review and verification of the frequency, date, time and duration of advertisements broadcast for any candidate or political party.

6.3. All mass media entities shall furnish the COMELEC with a copy of all contracts for advertising, promoting or opposing any political party or the candidacy of any person for public office within five (5) days after its signing. In every case, it shall be signed by the donor, the candidate concerned or by the duly authorized representative of the political party.

6.4. No franchise or permit to operate a radio or television stations shall be granted or issued, suspended or cancelled during the election period.

In all instances, the COMELEC shall supervise the use and employment of press, radio and television facilities insofar or the placement of political advertisements is concerned to ensure that candidates are given equal opportunities under equal circumstances to make known their qualifications and their stand on public issues within the limits set forth in the Omnibus Election Code and Republic Act No. 7166 on election spending.

The COMELEC shall ensure that radio or television or cable television broadcasting entities shall not allow the scheduling of any program or permit any sponsor to manifestly favor or oppose any candidate or political party by unduly or repeatedly referring to or including said candidate and/or political party in such program respecting, however, in all instances the right of said broadcast entities to air accounts of significant news or news worthy events and views on matters of public interest.

6.5. All members of media, television, radio or print, shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. They shall recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.

6.6. Any mass media columnist, commentator, announcer, reporter, on-air correspondent or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office or is a campaign volunteer for or employed or retained in any capacity by any candidate or political party shall be deemed resigned, if so required by their employer, or shall take a leave of absence from his/her work as such during the campaign period:

Provided,

That any media practitioner who is an official of a political party or a member of the campaign staff of a candidate or political party shall not use his/her time or space to favor any candidate or political party.

6.7. No movie, cinematograph or documentary portraying the life or biography of a candidate shall be publicly exhibited in a theater, television station or any public forum during the campaign period.

6.8. No movie, cinematograph or documentary portrayed by an actor or media personality who is himself a candidate shall be publicly exhibited in a theater, television station or any public forum during the campaign period.

Show 10 more sections +→
Section 7 — Affirmative Action by the COMELEC.→

Section 7.

Affirmative Action by the COMELEC.

– 7.1. Pursuant to Sections 90 and 92 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881), the COMELEC shall procure the print space upon payment of just compensation from at least three (3) national newspapers of general circulation wherein candidates for national office can announce their candidacies. Such space shall be allocated free of charge equally and impartially among all the candidates for national office on three (3) different calendar days: the first day within the first week of the campaign period; the second day within the fifth week of the campaign period; and the third day within the tenth week of the campaign period.

7.2. The COMELEC shall also procure free airtime from at least three (3) national television networks and three(3) national radio networks, which shall also be allocated free of charge equally and impartially among all candidates for national office. Such free time shall be allocated on three (3) different calendar days; the first day within the first week of the campaign period; the second day within the fifth week of the campaign period; and the third day within the tenth weeks of the campaign period.

7.3. The COMELEC may require national television and radio networks to sponsor at least three (3) national debates among presidential candidates and at least one (1) national debate among vice presidential candidates. The debates among presidential candidates shall be scheduled on three (3) different calendar days; the first debate shall be scheduled within the first and second week of the campaign period; the second debate within the fifth and sixth week of the campaign period; and the third debate shall be scheduled within the tenth and eleventh week of the campaign period.

The sponsoring television or radio network may sell air-time for commercials and advertisements to interested advertisers and sponsors. The COMELEC shall promulgate rules and regulations for the holding of such debates.

Section 8 — COMELEC Space and Time.→

Section 8.

COMELEC Space and Time.

– The COMELEC shall procure shall in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation and air time in at least one (1) major broadcasting station or entity in every province or city:

Provided, however,

That in the absence of said newspaper, publication shall be done in any other magazine or periodical in said province or city, which shall be known as "COMELEC Space":

Provided, further,

That in the absence of said broadcasting station or entity, broadcasting shall be done in any radio or television station in said province or city, which shall be known as "COMELEC Time". Said time shall be allocated to the COMELEC free of charge, while said space shall be allocated to the COMELEC upon payment of just compensation. The COMELEC time and space shall be utilized exclusively by the COMELEC for public information dissemination on election-related concerns.

Section 9 — Posting of Campaign Materials.→

Section 9.

Posting of Campaign Materials.

– The COMELEC may authorize political parties and party-list groups to erect common poster areas for their candidates in not more than ten (1) public places such as plazas, markets, barangay centers and the like, wherein candidates can post, display or exhibit election propaganda:

Provided

, That the size of the poster areas shall not exceed twelve (12) by sixteen (16) feet or its equivalent.

Independent candidates with no political parties may likewise be authorized to erect common poster areas in not more than ten (10) public places, the size of which shall not exceed four (4) by six (6) feet or its equivalent.

Candidates may post any lawful propaganda material in private places with the consent of the owner thereof, and in public places or property which shall be allocated equitably and impartially among the candidates.

Section 10 — Right to Reply.→

Section 10.

Right to Reply.

– All registered parties and bona fide candidates shall be have the right to reply to charges published against them. The reply shall be given publicity by the newspaper, television and/or radio station which first printed or aired the charges with the same prominence or in the same page or section or in the same time slot as the first statement.

Section 11 — Rates for Political Propaganda.→

Section 11.

Rates for Political Propaganda.

– During the election period, media outlets shall charge registered political parties and bona fide candidates a discounted rate of thirty percent (30%) for television, twenty percent (20%) for radio and ten (10%) for print over the average rates charged during the first three quarters of the calendar year preceding the elections.

Section 12 — Substitution of Candidates.→

Section 12.

Substitution of Candidates.

– In case of valid substitutions after the official ballots have been printed, the votes cast for the substituted candidates shall be considered as stray votes but shall not invalidate the whole ballot. For this purpose, the official ballots shall provide spaces where the voters may write the name of the substitute candidates if they are voting for the latter:

Provided, however,

That if the substitute candidate of the same family name, this provision shall not apply.

Section 13 — Authority of the COMELEC to Promulgate Rules; Election Offenses.→

Section 13.

Authority of the COMELEC to Promulgate Rules; Election Offenses.

– The COMELEC shall promulgate and furnish all political parties and candidates and the mass media entities the rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act, consistent with the criteria established in Article IX-C, Section 4 of the Constitution and Section 86 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881).

Rules and regulations promulgated by the COMELEC under and by authority of this Section shall take effect on the seventh day after their publication in at least two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation. Prior to effectivity of said rules and regulations, no political advertisement or propaganda for or against any candidate or political party shall be published or broadcast through mass media.

Violation of this Act and the rules and regulations of the COMELEC issued to implement this Act shall be an election offense punishable under the first and second paragraphs of Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881).

Section 14 — Repealing Clause.→

Section 14.

Repealing Clause.

– Section 67 and 85 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881) and Sections 10 and 11 of Republic Act No. 6646 are hereby repealed. As a consequence, the first proviso in the third paragraph of Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8436 is rendered ineffective. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified or amended accordingly.

Section 15 — Separability Clause.→

Section 15.

Separability Clause.

– If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 16 — Effectivity.→

Section 16.

Effectivity.

– This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved: February 12, 2001

(Sgd.)

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Full text on BatasKo. Original source: Official Gazette / Lawphil.

Eleksyon season na, at lahat — tarpaulins, TV ads, social media posts — parang walang patakaran. Pero may batas na nag-aayos nito. Ang Fair Election Act (Republic Act No. 9006), na naisabatas noong Pebrero 12, 2001, ay nagsasabing hindi libre ang lahat ng kampanya. May sukat, may limitasyon, at may responsibilidad. Bilang botante, ito ang batas na nagpoprotekta sa iyong karapatan na marinig ang totoo — hindi lang ang sinumang may pinakamataas na budget sa ads.

Real Filipino Scenario: Ang Tarpaulin ni Berto

Si Berto, 47, ay taxi driver sa Muntinlupa. Tuwing pumupunta siya sa palengke, nakakakita siya ng napakalaking campaign poster — halos buong pader ng bahay ng kapitbahay niya ay natakpan ng mukha ng isang kandidato. Tinatanong niya kung normal ba ito, o may violation na nangyayari.

Sa ilalim ng Section 3.3 ng RA 9006, ang mga cloth, paper, o cardboard poster ay hindi dapat lumampas sa dalawang pies by tatlong pies (2 ft x 3 ft). Ang napakalaking tarpaulin na nagtatakip ng buong pader? Violation iyan ng Fair Election Act.

Ano ang gagawin ni Berto:

  1. Kumuha ng larawan ng oversized na poster kasama ang halatang sukat ng reference (hal., taong nakatayo sa tabi nito).
  2. Mag-file ng reklamo sa pinakamalapit na COMELEC Provincial o City Office.
  3. Maaari ring mag-report sa COMELEC hotline o sa kanilang opisyal na website (comelec.gov.ph).

Hindi lang trabaho ng COMELEC ang mag-enforce nito — may karapatang magreklamo ang bawat mamamayan.

What the Law Actually Says

Ang Republic Act No. 9006, o ang Fair Election Act, ay batas na nagtatakda ng mga patakaran para sa election propaganda at media access para sa lahat ng kandidato at political parties.

Mga pangunahing probisyon:

Sa propaganda materials (Section 3), pinapayagan ang:

  • Mga pamphlet, leaflet, sticker na hindi lalampas sa 8.5 inches wide at 14 inches long
  • Mga poster na hindi lalampas sa 2 feet by 3 feet
  • Mga streamer para sa rallies na hindi lalampas sa 3 feet by 8 feet, na pwedeng i-display 5 araw bago ang rally at dapat alisin 24 oras pagkatapos

Sa paid media ads (Section 6.2), may cap ang bawat kandidato:

  • Para sa national positions: hindi hihigit sa 120 minuto ng TV ads at 180 minuto ng radio ads sa buong campaign period
  • Para sa local positions: hindi hihigit sa 60 minuto ng TV ads at 90 minuto ng radio ads

Sa election surveys (Section 5.4):

  • Bawal mag-publish ng surveys na nakakaapekto sa national candidates 15 araw bago ang eleksyon
  • Bawal mag-publish ng surveys para sa local candidates 7 araw bago ang eleksyon

Sa lahat ng political advertisements (Section 4.1), dapat may label na: "political advertisement paid for by" kasama ang tunay na pangalan at address ng kandidato o partido.

What This Means for You

Para sa simpleng botante, ganito ang praktikal na ibig sabihin ng batas na ito:

Una, ang lahat ng political ads — kahit sa TV, radyo, dyaryo, o mga poster sa kalsada — ay may limitasyon. Hindi maaaring monopolyahin ng isang mayamang kandidato ang lahat ng airtime o espasyo sa mga billboard. Layunin nito na i-level ang playing field.

Pangalawa, ang bawat political advertisement ay dapat malinaw kung sino ang nagbayad. Kung walang "paid for by" label, may karapatang magtanong — at magreklamo — ang botante.

Pangatlo, ang mga survey na inilalabas malapit sa araw ng eleksyon ay may blackout period. Ito ay para hindi ka ma-influence ng "bandwagon effect" sa huling sandali ng iyong pagpili.

Pang-apat, may proteksyon ka bilang botante: ayon sa Section 2, ang Estado ay tinitiyak na ang mga bona fide candidate ay malaya mula sa anumang anyo ng harassment at discrimination.

Real Filipino Scenario: Ang Survey na Nakita ni Norma Online

Si Norma, 33, ay tech support representative sa Las Piñas. Tatlong araw bago ang midterm elections, nakakita siya ng viral na Facebook post na nagpapakita ng survey results — na sinasabing isang kilalang polling firm ang nag-conduct nito — na nagpapakita ng "dramatic lead" ng isang local mayoral candidate sa kanilang lungsod.

Ito ang edge case na maraming Pilipino ang hindi alam: sa ilalim ng Section 5.4 ng RA 9006, ang pag-publish ng election survey para sa local candidates ay bawal sa loob ng 7 araw bago ang eleksyon. Oo, pati online at social media — ang batas ay sumasaklaw sa "any person, natural as well as juridical" na nagpu-publish ng survey.

Ano ang gagawin ni Norma:

  1. Huwag agad i-share ang post — suriin muna kung kailan na-conduct at na-publish ang survey.
  2. Tingnan kung malinaw ba kung sino ang nag-commission ng survey (required ito ng Section 5.2(a)).
  3. Mag-report sa COMELEC kung parang may blackout period violation.
  4. Gamitin ang critical thinking — ang survey na walang methodology disclosure ay hindi mapagkakatiwalaan.

What Most Filipinos Get Wrong

"Kaya ko ilagay ang poster ng kandidato ko kahit gaano kalaki sa aking sariling bakod."

Mali ito. Ang size limit ng poster (2 ft x 3 ft) ay naaangkop sa lahat ng lugar, hindi lang sa mga pampublikong espasyo. Ang private property ay hindi exemption sa Section 3.3 ng Fair Election Act.

"Kung libre ang airtime na ibinigay ng istasyon sa kandidato, walang patakaran."

Mali rin. Sa ilalim ng Section 4.2, kung libre ang airtime, dapat may label na: "airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge by" kasama ang pangalan ng broadcast entity. May accountability pa rin.

"Ang exit polls ay bawal sa araw ng eleksyon."

Hindi ganito ang batas. Sa ilalim ng Section 5.5, pinapayagan ang exit polls — pero may mga kondisyon: hindi pwede sa loob ng 50 metro mula sa polling place, dapat nagsusuot ng distinctive clothing ang mga pollster, dapat sinabihan ang voters na pwede silang tumanggi, at ang resulta ay pwede lang i-announce pagkatapos ng official closing ng botohan.

"Ang political ads sa social media ay hindi saklaw ng batas."

Ang RA 9006 ay naisabatas noong 2001, bago pa man ang social media. Ang COMELEC ay nagbigay ng mga karagdagang resolutions para ma-address ang digital campaigning. Kung may katanungan sa specific na online situation, direkta sa COMELEC ang pinakamabuting tanungin.

Para sa OFWs / For OFWs

Bilang OFW, ikaw ay may karapatang bumoto sa Philippine elections sa pamamagitan ng Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) — isang hiwalay na sistema mula sa Fair Election Act pero direktang naapektuhan ng mga prinsipyo nito.

Paano ka naapektuhan ng RA 9006 bilang OFW:

Ang mga campaign materials at political advertisements na naaabot mo online — kahit nakatira ka sa ibang bansa — ay dapat sumunod pa rin sa mga patakaran ng Fair Election Act. Kung may nakitang political ad online na walang "paid for by" disclosure, ito ay potensyal na violation.

Specific na actions para sa OFWs:

  1. Mag-register bilang overseas absentee voter sa pinakamalapit na Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO/MWO) o Philippine Embassy o Consulate sa iyong bansa. Ang POLO/MWO ay nasa ilalim ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

  2. I-verify ang iyong registration status sa website ng COMELEC (comelec.gov.ph) o sa opisyal na OAV portal.

  3. Mag-ingat sa disinformation — ang blackout period para sa surveys (15 araw bago ang eleksyon para national candidates) ay naaangkop din sa content na naaabot mo kahit nasa abroad ka. Huwag mag-share ng unverified survey results malapit sa election day.

  4. Kung may nakikitang campaign violation — hal., isang kandidato na lumagpas sa media time limits o isang ad na walang proper disclosure — maaari kang mag-report sa COMELEC kahit nasa ibang bansa. I-email ang complaints@comelec.gov.ph o makipag-ugnayan sa iyong pinakamalapit na Philippine Embassy para sa tulong sa proseso.

  5. Para sa mga katanungan tungkol sa OAV, makipag-ugnayan sa DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) o sa inyong Philippine Embassy/Consulate sa inyong host country.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Charing na OFW sa Singapore

Si Charing, 41, ay factory worker na nakatira sa Singapore. Sa bawat eleksyon, aktibo siyang nagboboto bilang registered overseas absentee voter. Sa ibang grupo ng mga kabababayan niya sa Singapore, may nag-share ng isang Facebook video ng isang Philippine senator na nagbibigay ng campaign speech. Sinabi ng nagpost na libre ang video — "no campaign funds used." Pero wala itong kahit anong disclosure label.

Ang batas ay malinaw: sa ilalim ng Section 4.1 ng RA 9006, ang lahat ng broadcast ng election propaganda — kahit television, radio, o iba pang medium — ay dapat may proper identification kung sino ang nagbayad. Ang "libre" ay hindi nangangahulugang walang disclosure. Kung libre ang airtime o platform, dapat nakalagay pa rin ang Section 4.2 na required label.

Ano ang gagawin ni Charing:

  1. Huwag i-share ang video nang walang proper context.
  2. Mag-screenshot at i-report sa COMELEC sa pamamagitan ng email (complaints@comelec.gov.ph).
  3. I-inform ang kababayan na ang ganitong uri ng content — kahit nasa social media — ay dapat may proper disclosure.
  4. Makipag-ugnayan sa Philippine Embassy sa Singapore kung kailangan ng tulong sa proseso ng pag-report.

What to Do if Your Rights Are Violated

Ano ang Gagawin kung May Nakitang Violation

  1. I-document ang violation. Kumuha ng larawan, screenshot, o video ng oversized na poster, walang-label na ad, o anumang suspected na violation. Caputren ang petsa at lokasyon.

  2. Tukuyin ang uri ng violation. Oversized na poster? Walang "paid for by" label? Lumampas ang airtime? Bawat uri ay may kaukulang batas sa RA 9006.

  3. Mag-file ng reklamo sa COMELEC. Para sa lokal na violations, pumunta sa pinakamalapit na COMELEC Provincial, City, o Municipal Office. Para sa online violations o kung malayo sa opisina, mag-email sa complaints@comelec.gov.ph.

  4. Makipag-ugnayan sa Election Officers. Ang bawat lungsod at munisipyo ay may Election Officer na itinalaga ng COMELEC. Sila ang unang punto ng kontak para sa mga lokal na concerns.

  5. Makiisa sa accredited citizen's arms. Ang mga organisasyon tulad ng PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) ay mga accredited citizen's arm ng COMELEC at maaaring tumulong sa pag-document at pag-report ng violations.

  6. I-follow up ang iyong reklamo. Humingi ng reference number o acknowledgment ng iyong reklamo para may proof ka na nakapag-report ka.

  7. Huwag mag-take the law into your own hands. Huwag mismo na tanggalin ang mga illegal na poster o humarang sa mga kampanya. Hayaan ang COMELEC na mag-enforce.

Related Laws

Mga Madalas Itanong / FAQ

Q: Puwede bang mag-post ng campaign materials ang isang ordinaryong mamamayan para sa kanyang paboritong kandidato?

A: Oo, pinapayagan ang mga poster at materials — pero may sukat na dapat sundin. Ang mga poster ay hindi dapat lumampas sa 2 feet by 3 feet, at ang mga sticker o leaflet ay hindi dapat lumampas sa 8.5 inches by 14 inches. Kahit sa iyong sariling bakod o pader, ang size limit ay naaangkop pa rin sa ilalim ng Section 3.3 ng RA 9006. Ang malaking tarpaulin na nagtatakip ng buong pader ay violation pa rin, kahit sa pribadong ari-arian.

Q: Bawal ba ang political ads sa social media sa ilalim ng RA 9006?

A: Ang RA 9006 ay naisabatas noong 2001, bago pa ang social media. Ang COMELEC ay naglabas ng karagdagang resolutions para ma-address ang digital campaigning — kabilang ang requirement na may "paid for by" disclosure ang mga boosted o paid political ads online. Para sa updated na rules sa social media, direkta sa COMELEC ang pinakamabuting tanungin (comelec.gov.ph) o i-check ang pinakabagong COMELEC resolutions.

Q: Kung lumampas ang isang kandidato sa kanyang TV airtime limit, ano ang mangyayari?

A: Ang paglampas sa airtime limits sa ilalim ng Section 6.2 ng RA 9006 ay isang election offense. Ang COMELEC ay may kapangyarihang mag-impose ng administrative sanctions — kasama ang pagkansela ng certificate of candidacy sa matinding kaso. Ang broadcast station na pumayag na i-air ang labis na oras ay maaari ring parusahan. Mag-file ng reklamo sa COMELEC para sa mga ganitong uri ng violation.

Q: Bilang OFW, puwede ba akong bumoto para sa lokal na opisyal sa aming lugar, o national positions lang?

A: Sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 9189 (Overseas Absentee Voting Act), ang mga OFW ay maaaring bumoto para sa national positions — Pangulo, Pangalawang Pangulo, Senador, at party-list representatives. Hindi kasama ang lokal na posisyon tulad ng mayor o konsehal sa overseas absentee voting. Para sa kumpletong impormasyon, bisitahin ang comelec.gov.ph.

Q: May "survey blackout" na binabanggit sa batas — exactly kailan ito?

A: Sa ilalim ng Section 5.4 ng RA 9006, ang blackout periods ay: 15 araw bago ang eleksyon para sa national candidates, at 7 araw bago ang eleksyon para sa lokal na kandidato. Sa loob ng mga panahong ito, bawal mag-publish ng election surveys. Ang "publication" ay sumasaklaw sa lahat ng media — print, broadcast, at online.

Sources

  • Republic Act No. 9006. An Act to Enhance the Holding of Free, Orderly, Honest, Peaceful and Credible Elections Through Fair Election Practices (Fair Election Act). Approved February 12, 2001. Retrieved from (archived at)

  • Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Official website: comelec.gov.ph

  • Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) — for OFW voter registration and overseas absentee voting: dmw.gov.ph

RELATED RIGHTS

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Overseas Voting Act of 2013 (RA 10590) — BatasKo ELI5

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Overseas Absentee Voting Act Philippines (RA 9189) — BatasKo

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ARMM Election Synchronization Law Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

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Accessible Polling Places for PWDs and Senior Citizens Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

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