Transparency challenge to the 2013 candidates

This article credited from the Philippine Online Chronicles
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:58 Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

  One of Blog Watch goals is to educate the electorate that there are pertinent Campaign Finance Laws. Voters need to be vigilant and be aware of these laws. We hold these public officers accountable to the people. We needed to make sure that our candidates are transparent as to the sources of their campaign money and the true extent of their elections spending as this would impact directly on the candidates’ governance upon assumption to office. Campaign spending was not given enough importance in the past elections unlike voting and counting procedures. At the end of the elections, the usual practice is to celebrate the victory, look at disputes, but forget about the finances.
Disclose pre-campaigning expenses
While it is clear that there are reportorial requirements for campaign spending, there are no laws required for pre-campaign spending. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez even admits that the law may not prohibit pre-mature campaigning, but it is unfair.
The Supreme Court “ ruled that a commercial endorsement by politicians is not necessarily a form of premature campaigning, nor when they push personal advocacies in mass media. “

While it is not illegal to do pre-campaign activities, I believe it is unethical. In 2008, Jovito Salonga referred to RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which he authored in 1991.
Pre-campaigning in whatever form should not be tolerated by the electorate as it undermines the constitutional mandate for a free and fair 2013 elections. As voters, we can require the candidates to disclose their pre-campaigning expenses including their sources. So far, Rep. Sonny Angara has disclosed his pre-campaign expenses on ads to be ten million pesos but has not revealed whether these came from his own resources, friends or corporations.
Disclose source of campaign funds if PDAF or not

Senatorial candidate Greco Beljica issues a challenge to all senatorial candidates in 2013 to be transparent and open with their campaign funds. He calls out that “to raise the bar against corruption and a clean election, we are calling that we all reveal the source of our campaign funds.”

To erase allegations that some senatorial candidates are using Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or Pork Barrel for the campaign. Beljica is calling them out “to declare on line and in public where they are getting their campaign funds from. It is illegal and immoral to use their PDAF. “
Indeed, PDAF is Taxpayers’ money which should not be used for campaigning and personal use.

Beljica adds that “if they are not using the PDAF, and if it is coming from donors, then our challenge is to come out to the open and be transparent about our donors. We are challenging all senatoriables to reveal to the public who their donors are so people will know who is behind the candidates and who they will be supporting or protecting when and if we win.”

Public disclosure COMELEC Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes announced “that the 2013 elections would be the first in which the Commission would be seriously looking into the issue of campaign finance.” Even with the commitment of COMELC and the new Campaign Finance Rules , “educating candidates, political parties, and service providers, as well as election watchdogs and the media on its new campaign finance policy” can be a challenge.
Disclosure is a way to keep political campaigns clean. It can prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption. That is why we have campaign finance laws. The way campaigns are financed and “what candidates and political parties do with donations, can be the source of many integrity problems.”
Most of all, public disclosure is needed so the “voter will know who is financially backing a candidate and whether this might influence future decisions once in office.” According to Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, 'corruption and abuses related to the financing of elections and political parties are among the most common dangers confronting democracies today.
Everyone needs to do their share in this electoral process. The electorate can call out our candidates. The candidates can choose to be transparent without much prodding.
Candidates, political parties, and party-list groups should:

1. Disclose pre-campaign expenses and source of funds,

2. Not to use PDAF for campaign use.

3. File three copies of a "full, true, and itemized" statement of campaign contributions and expenditures (SOCE) within 30 days after election day.

Let’s do our part. Read up on Campaign Finance Laws. Be vigilant. Report, if there is evidence, on violation of the Election Finance laws.

Stock photos from Blog Watch. Some rights reserved.