Mama calls them 'Pampams'

Nothing could be more explicit than this: "It shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period."

That's Article X, Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code. But for some politicians, this provision in our election law might as well not exist at all.    

The trouble is that no less than the Supreme Court has struck down this explicit prohibition on premature campaign by ruling that one's candidacy becomes official only within the campaign period. Hence, no one is a candidate unless he has filed a certificate of candidacy.

The High Court's ruling has therefore prompted some of our politicos to treat the Omnibus Election Code like a doormat and campaign to their heart's content on TV, radio and in print.

Of course, they're not saying, "Vote for Me on Election Day", but that's the not-so-subtle message they convey when they harp on their accomplishments as public officials.      

The good news is that at least one election watchdog, the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), has launched a campaign to "shame" politicians engaged in premature campaigning for the 2016 elections.

In its Facebook page "Election 2016 Pampams," the group has posted pictures and videos of politicians promoting themselves in various ways, whether through greetings and announcements on tarpaulin or paid advertisements on television and radio. The group also invited citizens to send photos and videos to their Facebook page.

For his part, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, has also condemned politicians "circumventing the law against premature campaigning."

Civil society and the Church are correct in criticizing those engaged in  premature campaigning using what else but public funds. 

Let's not let them get away with murder.

Don’t vote for any of them come Election Day.

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Image by www.facebook.com/politikongpampam