The Philippine Online Chronicles

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's (PGMA) congressional bid received a lot of angry reactions from social media platforms ranging from garapal to Kapampangans, the nation and the world watching you! Reject GMA!

The news is disturbing to most Filipinos but  let us not neglect  equally critical election issues which the PGMA is not exempted.  December 1 is the last day of filing the Certificate of  Candidacy (COCs).  Once we have candidates, there are laws to be complied  with.  In the past, media gave little coverage to Campaign Finance. It is not given enough importance unlike voting and counting procedures. The character of your candidate is shown through his transparency.

You need to know that your candidates are  transparent in Election Campaign sourcing and the true extent of their elections spending as this would impact directly on the candidates’ governance upon assumption to office. "Promoting transparency in campaign finance will not necessarily translate to good governance but it will be a clear step in enhancing trust in the electoral system." conceded Beverly Hagerdon-Thakur of International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES- Philippines).

Media has the  responsibility to accurately report political and technical aspect of elections and plays a vital role  in informed voters and holding candidates, political parties, and election authorities accountable. One of BlogWatch.ph’  focus  is Voters Education in Campaign Finance. This is the second of a series on Campaign Finance Laws where we list down the Sources of Funds or the Income side of Election Finance. There is more to come such as the Expenditure side of Election Finance, Recording and Reportorial Requirements, Use of Public Funds and Properties, and Effects of Violation of Election Finance Laws and Rules.

So what are the sources of election funds? We have three types.

1. Personal money of candidates
2. Donation or contributions from persons or corporations not prohibited by law to give donations
3. Fund raising activities in manners not prohibited by law

The general rule is that all persons or corporations, except the following, can donate or contribute to candidates and political parties.

• Public or private financial institutions, but loans in the ordinary course of business are allowed
• Individuals or corporations operating a public utility or in possession of, or exploiting, any natural resources of the nation
• Individuals or corporations who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government with goods or services or to perform construction or other works
• Individuals or corporations who have been granted franchises, or similar privileges or concessions by the government
• Individuals or corporations who, within one year prior to the date of election, have been granted loans in excess of P100,000 by the government
• Officials or employees in the Civil Service, or members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Foreigners and foreign corporations

Solicitation and receipt of campaign funds from the above enumerated sources are also prohibited.

Fund Raising Activities for election campaigns are generally allowed as long as all contributions obtained are properly reported.  However, those done during election period, through the following means, are not allowed:

• Through the holding of dances
• Through the holding of lotteries, cockfights, games, boxing bouts, and bingo/span>
• Through the holding of beauty contests
• Through entertainment, or cinematographic, theatrical, or other performances

There is no limit imposed by law on how much a qualified person can donate or contribute to a candidate or political party.

Contributors or donors must contribute in their own name and that the recipient must reflect in their report the true name of all their contributors.  In other words, donations from “friends of…” are not allowed.

Contributions or Donations to election campaigns duly reported to COMELEC shall be exempt from Donor’s Tax.

Rest assured there are now private monitoring organizations that focus on Electoral Reform Advocacy. They will ensure that Election Finance Laws will be complied with. Watch out for the launch of this monitory project.

Be vigilant. Read up on the Basic Guide to the Laws and Rules Governing Election Finance in the Philppines" or (Download the ebook on Basic Guide to the Laws and Rules Governing Election Finance in the Philippines)

More Articles on Campaign Finance to follow soon : Expenditure side of Election Finance, Recording and Reportorial Requirements, Use of Public Funds and Properties, and Effects of Violation of Election Finance Laws and Rules.

 

Related Articles on Campaign Finance

• Know Your Candidates' Spending
• The Epxenditure Side of Election Finance- Part 2
• Recording and Reportorial Requirements - Part 3

(These were summarized and compiled by Luie Tito Guia of the Lawyers League for Liberty or Libertas.)

Photo: “A Plethora of Pesos [obverse]” by Jason Cromer, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.