Villanueva, Haidee S.

12-Phoenix

ABS-CBN: Anti-Duterte ad complies with election laws

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano secures a temporary restraining order against the continued airing of the political
advertisement

Rappler.com

Published: 11:32:31am May 6, 2016

Updated: 6:53:28am May 7, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – Television network ABS-CBN said it was their duty to air the controversial advertisement
that features children attacking the suitability of leading presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for the
highest post of the land.

In a statement posted on their web site, the TV giant said the political advertisement was reviewed by its ethics
committed and was found to be compliant with the guidelines of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

“The controversial political advertisement being talked about in social media, which aired on ABS-CBN, was
produced and paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Prior to the airing, ABS-CBN’s ethics committee reviewed
the content of the material, which complies with the requirements of pertinent election laws,” the TV station
said.

“By airing the said commercial, ABS-CBN is being consistent with COMELEC guidelines, which prohibit radio
or television stations to discriminate in the sale of air time against any political party or candidate. We are duty
bound to air a legitimate ad,” it added.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday, May 7, secured a temporary restraining order against the continued
airing of the political advertisement. He is Duterte's running mate.

Cayetano filed a petition for preliminary injunction against the top executives of the network before the
Regional Trial Court of Taguig City, where his wife is the mayor. The respondents are ABS-CBN chairman
Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, Augusto Almeda-Lopez, Carlo Katigbak, Socorro Vidanes, and August Benitez.

Meanwhile, TV 5 denied airing the said advertisement. They said they decided not to air because there were
requirements that were not complied with. GMA 7 has yet to issue a statement on the issue. The Movie and
Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) said the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has the
sole jurisdiction to regulate political advertisements.

MTRCB informs the gen public that it is the COMELEC w/c has sole jurisdiction to regulate political TV ads
under the Fair Elections Act. — MTRCB (@MTRCBgov) May 5, 2016

On Thursday, May 5, supporters of Mayor Duterte criticized TV stations ABS-CBN, GMA-7 and TV-5 for airing
the advertisements paid for by vice-presidential candidate Senator Antonio Trillanes. The ad showed clips of
the Davao mayor cursing and making his controversial rape remark. They were spliced with videos of children
rhetorically asking if Duterte is the model that adults want for them. Cayetano said that the advertisement was
part of a bigger conspiracy against him.

https://amp.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/132044-abs-cbn-duterte-ad-children

SUMMARY
The controversial advertisement of presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that highlights
children attacking the suitability of him which was produced and paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was aired
on ABS-CBN. The ad showed clips of Mayor Duterte cursing and making his controversial rape remark and
were spiced with videos of children rhetorically asking if Duterte is the model that adults want for them. ABS-
CBN posted their statement that the political advertisement was reviewed by its ethics committed and was
found to be compliant with the guidelines of the COMELEC. Senator Allan Peter Cayetano secured a
temporary restraining order against the continued airing of the said commercial.

Meanwhile, TV 5 denied airing that political advertisement and said that they decided not to air because
there were requirements that were not complied with. And GMA 7 has yet issue a statement on the issue.
MTRCB informs the public that it is the COMELEC which has sole jurisdiction to regulate political TV ads under
the Fair Elections Act. The supporters of Mayor Duterte criticized TV stations ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and TV 5 for
airing the advertisement. “The advertisement was part of a bigger conspiracy against Mayor Duterte” said by
Cayetano.

REACTION

The media and its influence on the societies, has grown exponentially. People need news/information
for various reasons, on one hand it can be used to socialize and on the other to make decisions and formulate
opinions. We need to be conscious of the reality that most of our decisions, beliefs and values are based on
what we know and see for a fact. The media creates the ideal image of beautiful men and women with all the
ingredients of a successful person, you can see it in movies and television.
In this article, we see how people needs and used the media to influence other. Those poltical
advertisement has big impact on the decision of the people watching so the politicians really pay attention on
that part. The candidates that can pay for more television and media exposure have more influence on public
opinion and thus can receive more votes. That is why the supporters of Mayor Duterte put an action to stop the
advertisement that is not good him because it may have a negative impact against Mayor Duterte.
On the other hand, media really needs to inform the public and give true news or information about a
certain events but they should not be biased and just do what their purpose really is.