ABS-CBN received quite a bit of flak when it aired an anti-Duterte ad paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. on Thu, May 5.
READ MORE: Anti-Duterte ad paid for by Trillanes airs on ABS-CBN and GMA-7
But in a statement sent to Philippine Daily Inquirer, the TV network said it is “duty bound to air a legitimate ad” because the Comelec prohibits radio and television stations “to discriminate in the sale of air time against any political party or candidate.”
It added the network’s ethic committee reviewed the ad, “which complies with the requirements of pertinent election laws.”
The ad was aired on TV network GMA as well. Meanwhile, TV5 issued a statement saying it didn’t air the anti-Duterte ad, as earlier reported.
Even the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board was hit for the controversial ad. Netizens, including actor Robin Padilla, criticized the board for allowing the use of children in the political ad.
The caption for Robin’s photo goes: “Children should not be used in black propaganda, no matter what the situation is.”
But in a Twitter post on Fri, May 6, the MTRCB said it is the Comelec that regulates political ads on TV.
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
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