Senatorial bet faces possible disqualification over online contest

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking into the possible violation of an administration candidate for senator who runs a promo on social networking sites and offering a brand new iPad as reward.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. confirmed that the senatorial candidate running the online promo is a member of the Liberal Party-led Team PNoy slate but declined to name the person involved pending results of the ongoing investigation.

A quick review of the candidates' social media accounts revealed that it is former senator Jamby Madrigal, an LP candidate seeking political comeback, who offers a reward to netizens joining her online contest.

"Speak your mind out about corruption and win an iPad," posted Madrigal on her official Twitter account, @TheRealJamby, last February 15.

A poster of the contest is also being featured on her official Facebook page. The poster carried the words "dadadaFriends of jajajaJamby want you to win a Free iPad." The poster said the contest ends on March 12 and winners will be announced three days later.

The online contest simply requires contestant to "Like" Jamby's fan page and complete the sentence "Corruption is bad because…"

Brillantes said that if found with enough grounds, the Comelec will not hesitate in filing election offense cases against the candidate.

"Chine-check pa natin kung may violation… (We are checking for possible election violation) but it will fall probably under illegal campaigning kasi nag bibigay ka ng premyo (Because you are giving away prizes)," he said.

Section 104 of the Omnibus Election Code states that "no candidate, his or her spouse or any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or his campaign manager, agent or representative shall, during the campaign period, on the day before and on the day of the election, directly or indirectly… make any donation, contribution or gift in cash or in kind."

Violations of the Code carry a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of rights of suffrage, and disqualification to hold public office. (HDT/Sunnex)