SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

T h ir d R e g u la r S e s s io n V-t
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SENATE
No— 1995

Introduced by S e n a to r R ich ard |. G ordon ^

AN ACT
REFORMING ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN BY INSTITUTING TWO
ROUNDS OF ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND
SENATORS. REQUIRING COMELEC-SPONSORED CAMPAIGN
ADVERTISEMENT AND TOWN-HALL STYLE DEBATES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 4, Article IX (C) of the 1987 Constitution provides that:

"SECTION 4. The Commission [on Elections] may, during the

election period, supervise or regulate the enjoym ent or utilization of all
franchises or perm its for the operation of transportation and other
public utilities, m edia of com m unication or inform ation, all grants,
special privileges, or concessions granted by the G overnm ent or any
subdivision, agency, or instrum entality thereof, including any
governm ent-ow ned or controlled corporation or its subsidiary. Such
supervision or regulation shall aim to ensure equal opportunity, time,
and space, and the right to reply, including reasonable, equal rates
therefor, for public inform ation cam paigns and forum s am ong
candidates in connection with the objective of holding free, orderly,
honest, peaceful, and credible elections."

Why is this provision in the Constitution? It is because the Constitution sees

th at th ere is a problem - th at th ere is inequality in the opportunity for public
elective offices. Economic inequalities in society tran slate into political inequalities
in governm ent. To address this inequality and "to ensure equal opportunity, time,
and space, and the right to reply, including reasonable, equal rates therefor, for
public inform ation cam paigns and forum s am ong candidates", the Constitution
em pow ered the Commission on Elections "to supervise or regulate the enjoym ent or
utilization of all franchises or perm its for the operation of tran sp o rtatio n and other
public utilities, media of com m unication or information."

There are interest groups in any country, bu t here, the situation is palpably
w orse. As it is, the oligarchy, the rich, crim inals who control vast resources, can get
candidates they support elected by sheer am ount of financial resources they
contribute. These contributions, in turn, make the candidates beholden to th eir