RA 9006

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

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. – 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. – 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

BP 881 OEC

Section 90. Comelec space. - The Commission shall procure space in at least one newspaper of general
circulation 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" wherein candidates can announce their candidacy. Said space shall be
allocated, free of charge, equally and impartially by the Commission among all candidates within the
area in which the newspaper is circulated.

Section 91. Comelec poster area. - Whenever practicable, the Commission shall also designate and
provide for a common poster are in strategic places in each town wherein candidates can announce and
further their candidacy through posters, said space to be likewise allocated free of charge, equally and
impartially by the Commission among all the candidates concerned.

Section 92. Comelec time. - The Commission shall procure radio and television time to be known as
"Comelec Time" which shall be allocated equally and impartially among the candidates within the area
of coverage of all radio and television stations. For this purpose, the franchise of all radio broadcasting
and television station are hereby amended so as to provide radio television time, free of charge, during
the period of the campaign.

Section 93. Comelec information bulletin. - The Commission shall cause the printing, and supervise the
dissemination of bulletins to be known as "Comelec Bulletin" which shall be of such size as to adequately
contain the picture, bio-data and program of government of every candidate. Said bulletin shall be
disseminated to the voters or displayed in such places as to give due prominence thereto. Any candidate
may reprint at his expense, any "Comelec Bulletin" upon prior authority of the Commission: Provided,
That the printing of the names of the different candidates with their bio-data must be in alphabetical
order irrespective of party affiliation.

Halili v. COMELEC (June 16, 1978)

FACTS: Federico SUNTAY was a candidate for the 1951 gubernatorial election in Bulacan. His
campaign manager was a bigshot businessman, ice plant, bus line and taxicab operator and
incumbent Bulacan governor Fortunato HALILI. Halili and Suntay devised a scheme to channel
Halili’s funds to the campaign, in contravention of Election Law provisions banning public utility
operators from making campaign contributions (Sec. 47) and limiting spending of candidates to an
amount equal to 1 year’s salary of the position for which they are running (Sec. 48; in this case,
P5,000).
To finance the campaign, they entered into a series of loans and a lease which were coursed through
dummies. Suntay later sued Halili and the dummy employees, claiming that he never received the
cash, and seeking that the loans and the lease be declared void for being illegal.
HELD: Halili was fully aware of the purpose and objective in consummating the lease contract and
the promissory notes, that is, to sustain the campaign funds of Suntay" and that "Halili cannot feign
lack of knowledge" of that purpose”; moreso because Halili is the incumbent Governor and Suntay’s
campaign manager. Halili should know that the campaign expenses would exceed P5,000. Sec. 48
speaks of principals and accomplices. Since Halili knew that the rental and loan proceeds were to be
used for Suntay’s campaign, as Suntay’s chief financier and campaign manager, he had a hand in
spending the campaign funds; thus he is a co-principal in the election offense
The word ‘entity’ in Sec. 47 may refer to an individual. The justification for the prohibition exists with
respect to natural persons who are public utility operators. There should be no discriminatory
treatment. The justification for the prohibition exists with respect to natural persons who are public
utility operators. There should be no discriminatory treatment.