Regulations of Election Spending and Propaganda.
Section 12
SEC. 12. Regulations of Election Spending and Propaganda. — The following provisions shall govern election spending and propaganda in the election provided for in this Act: The Commission on Elections shall construct at least one billboard which shall be known as Comelec billboard as centrally as possible in every city, municipality, municipal district, and barrio of sufficient population density. Such billboard shall be of sufficient size and permanency to allow each candidate in the district adequate space therein to announce his candidacy with such design and with such brief statement of his qualifications and/or views on constitutional reforms as the candidate may desire, subject to space limitations which shall be allocated by lottery by the Commission equally and impartially among the candidates of the district. The franchises of all radio broadcasting and television stations are hereby amended so as to require each such station to furnish to the Commission on Elections, free of charge, during the period of the campaign, at least one but not more than two hours of prime time at least once each week, but not oftener than every other day, which shall be known as Comelec time. The Commission on Elections shall determine, within the limits herein set, how much time is required and shall allocate the Comelec time by lottery equally and impartially among the candidates in the districts within the area of coverage of said radio broadcasting and television stations. Outside Comelec billboards and Comelec time any candidate or other person may produce or distribute, or cause to be produced or distributed, for the purpose of furthering or opposing the candidacy of any person, only the following forms of election propaganda: Pamphlets, leaflets, cards or other written or printed material of a size not more that eight and one-half inches in width by fourteen inches in length, containing the candidate's picture, activities, special qualifications or his views on the issues of Constitutional Reform or other data relevant to his candidacy; and Handwritten or printed letters, urging voters to vote for or against any particular candidate. It shall be unlawful for any candidate to avail of the franking privilege, and for any official of the government to use or extend such privilege, for the purpose of furthering or opposing the candidacy of any person as delegate to the Constitutional Convention. All other forms of propaganda are prohibited. Accordingly, outside of Comelec billboards, it shall be unlawful to erect, attach, float or display any billboard, streamer, tinplate poster, balloon and the like, of whatever size, shape, form or kind, advertising the name of any candidate; and it shall likewise be unlawful to purchase, produce, request or distribute sample ballots, or electoral propaganda gadgets such as pens, lighters, fans (of whatever nature), flashlights, athletic goods or material, wallets, bandanas, shirts, hats, matches, cigarette, and the like, whether of domestic or foreign origin. Any prohibited election propaganda, propaganda gadgets or advertising may be confiscated or torn down by the Comelec Supervisor upon authority of the Commission on Elections. In no case, however, shall election supervisors or registrars be assigned to a district or districts where they are related to any candidate within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. Similarly, apart from Comelec time, it shall be unlawful for any radio broadcasting or television station, moviehouse or theater to show, to display or to give any advertising or propaganda to any candidate; nor may any candidate appear on any interview or program, unless all other candidates in the district are also invited to appear. The Commission on Elections shall endeavor to obtain free space from newspapers, magazines and periodicals which shall be known as Comelec Space, and shall allocate this space equally and impartially among all candidates within the areas in which the newspapers are circulated. Outside of said Comelec space, it shall be unlawful to print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any advertisement, paid comment or paid article in furtherance of or in opposition to the candidacy of any person for delegate, or mentioning the name of any candidate and the fact of his candidacy, unless all the names of all other candidates in the district in which the candidate mentioned is running are also mentioned with equal prominence. All candidates and all other persons making or receiving expenditures, contributions or donations which in their totality exceed fifty pesos, in order to further or oppose the candidacy of any candidate, shall file a statement of all such expenditures and contributions made or received on such dates and with such details as the Commission on Elections shall prescribe by rules. The total expenditures made by a candidate, or by any other person with the knowledge and consent of the candidate, shall not exceed thirty-two thousand pesos. Nothing in this section shall preclude news coverage by the mass media of significant and newsworthy events, views, public meetings or rallies involving any candidate in any news program, newsreel, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical: Provided, That it shall be unlawful for any radio broadcasting and television station to schedule any program or permit any sponsor to manifestly favor or oppose any candidate by unduly referring to him or including him in its programs or newscast.