A city mayoralty bet has taken the cudgels for other candidates in the coming May 13 elections, on what appeared to be a clampdown on the already limited time allotted for the local campaign period. Lawyer Agustinus “Dodong”Gonzaga said Comelec Resolution No. 9615 is actually a restraint, disadvantageous to candidates, particularly those who have less media exposure before. “The people should be given enough time to know the candidates, listen to their advocacies and platform of government. Cutting air-time on media, plus the limited 45-day campaign period for local candidates is denying voters the right to be informed,” Gonzaga said. Gonzaga is the only lawyer among the three city mayoralty candidates for Tagbilaran and is the official candidate of the ruling administration Liberal Party. He is a product of the University of the Philippines, was among the researchers in the 1971 Constitutional Convention, passed the bar exams in 1973, went to the United States for further studies at the Harvard University Law School.

Comelec has cut the radio –television airtime limit to an aggregate basis instead of a “per station basis,” which means the airtime is counted “whether appearing on national, regional, or local, free or cable television.” Earlier, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said that the poll body is not hearing any complaints from the candidates. “Wala akong naririnig masyado sa kandidato. And yet, all of these rules are directed to the candidates. Hindi ‘yung media ang kalaban namin dito,” the Comelec chairman said. Media organizations have contested this Comelec’s new rules on election campaign, particularly the right to reply rule and the airtime limit. Gonzaga said, this time the Comelec should listen to the candidates. “It’s quite true but this time I have to speak my mind. I maybe the first candidate to say this: the Comelec resolution is unfair and is unconstitutional,” lawyer Gonzaga added.