Poll chief balks at biopic for bets

MANILA -- The head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cringed Monday at the idea of the lives of candidates in the forthcoming elections being depicted in television shows.

According to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, it is against good taste to have the lives of candidates being shown in television shows since it could be seen also as a form of promoting their candidacies in the May 13 polls.

"A paid political ad in the guise of a 'biography' is a clear breach of delicadeza," said Brillantes on his Twitter, @ChairBrillantes.

However, he immediately stressed that there is nothing against the law in engaging in such activities.

"Showing at this time of a paid campaign ad in the guise of a 'biography' maybe legal," said Brillantes.

Under Republic Act 9369, a person who files his Certificate of Candidacy shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period.

To note, the campaign period for national candidates will not begin until February 12 while local candidates begin theirs on March 29.

Last Saturday, ABS-CBN channel's longest-running drama anthology "Maalaala Mo Kaya" featured the life story of Grace Poe-Llamanzares, who is the adopted daughter of Philippine showbiz's power couple Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.

Poe-Llamanzares, a former chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), is running for senator in the May 13 polls as an independent candidate.

She is a guest candidate both for Team PNoy of the administration coalition and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay. (HDT/Sunnex)