Election lawyer urges COMELEC to 'educate' 'Batang Quiapo' producers on election rules

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has urged the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to "educate" the producers of the top-rating Kapamilya series "Batang Quiapo" on election laws over a recent episode that "misrepresented" political campaigning in the country.

- By PATRICIA DELA ROCA

The concern arose after the March 5 episode of the hit action series which depicted the "Mayor of Manila" (played by Albert Martinez) reprimanding the "Vice Mayor" (portrayed by Chanda Romero) for alleged "premature campaigning."

In a statement emailed to The STAR, Macalintal pointed out that "there is no law prohibiting premature campaigning in the country," as COMELEC chairman George Garcia had previously explained.

The lawyer said that no law prohibits early campaigning before the official campaign period begins and since candidates officially assume their status only at the start of the campaign period, COMELEC has no authority to regulate early advertisements.