AT LEAST two senators opposed on Tuesday the plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend the campaign period to 120 days for the 2016 polls.
The Comelec, which justified the plan as measure against premature campaigning, is eyeing to set the first day of the campaign period for national and local candidates to January 10, 2016, or 120 days before the Election Day, May 9.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, candidates for national positions have 90 days to campaign while candidates for local positions have 45 days.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said the poll body should have proposed to shorten the campaign period, noting a long campaign period could be costlier.
"In the first place, the clamor is not to lengthen it, but to shorten it. A campaign should be a short race, not the political equivalent of a triathlon," Recto said.
He also warned of certain problems that may be experienced under a longer campaign period.
“The longer the campaign, the longer an incumbent is distracted from doing his duties. A longer campaign heightens tensions, raises the political temperature that could reach violent boiling point. A longer campaign prolongs the public works ban, thereby delaying the completion of needed infrastructure,” said Recto.
Senator Francis Escudero said it was unreasonable for the Comelec to adjust the campaign calendar to avoid early campaigning.
“If they (Comelec) would change the period – be it long or short – of campaigning, that should be based on a reasonable, rational, just and good basis which is scrutinized, and not because it (early campaigning) is difficult to be averted,” he said. (Sunnex)