Difference between rich and poor candidates

The Supreme Court already made a ruling that premature campaigning is no longer considered an offense under Republic Act No. 8436 or the Automated Election Law, as amended by RA 9369. This ruling repealed Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code which barred candidates from early campaigning outside of the prescribed period.

Premature campaigning in terms of infomercials, advertisements and digital campaigning (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram) by politicians joining the May 2019 elections are tantamount to their “exercise of freedom of expression.”

This, for sure, is to the advantage of politicians and political parties that have huge campaign war chests, and who unashamedly hit the campaign trail early to boost their chances against candidates who are poor yet are qualified to be elected into public office.

I think this is not leveling the playing field in politics, and it is diametrically opposed to the democratic principle of fairness and equal opportunity for all.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO, reginaldtamayo@yahoo.com