Villar’s ads for OFWs could be an ethical but not a legal issue– lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - While Senate president Manuel Villar’s ethics could be questioned, he could not be held legally liable for his commercials and advertisements on helping repatriate distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

This was according to lawyer Herminio “Harry" Roque Jr who said that based on election laws, Villar’s campaign for OFWs could not be presumed as a form of premature campaigning for the 2010 presidential elections because he has not yet filed his candidacy and the election period has not yet started.

“There is no violation of law, (but it could be an) ethical issue. As public official, you cannot promote your candidacy before the election period. This is an improper use of office," he said.

“On a personal take, there cannot be a violation unless the nomination of candidates has begun. In my mind, it cannot be violated, since it’s not yet the election period," added Roque.

But another lawyer, Neri Javier Colmenares told GMANews.TV in a separate interview on Tuesday that the country’s election laws “are flawed and useless" in going after those are into premature campaigning.

“Yung batas natin palpak (Our laws are flawed). To be able to say that one is prematurely campaigning, the candidate must have filed his candidacy. This is a useless law," said Colmenares.

“If say Loren (Legarda), Villar, or anyone announces her or his candidacy, you can’t do anything about it. Congress crafted the law as such on purpose. The law should be amended," added Colmenares.

He said that generally, it should be deemed “inappropriate for officials to appear in commercials, whether it is for endorsing a product or anything else."

Earlier in the day, two leaders of migrant advocacy groups accused Villar of “using" OFWs for his presidential bid.

But the camp of the senator dismissed the accusation, saying the senator won’t stoop down to the level of his critics.

Joseph Henry Espiritu of OFW-SOS and Patnubay.com, a site for OFWs in Saudi Arabia, questioned Villar’s sincerity in helping repatriate abused OFWs.

“Heto ang isang pulitiko na ginagamit ang OFWs para sa kanyang personal na interes (Here is a politician who is just using OFWs for his personal interest)," said Espiritu in a statement recently e-mailed to GMANews.TV.

Espiritu claimed that Villar started campaigning prematurely through his commercials and advertisements on helping OFWs in distress.

Fe Nicodemus, executive director of the Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc or Kakammpi echoed Espiritu’s view, saying that while Villar was indeed helping OFWs, the senator’s actions could also benefit him politically.

“Nakakatulong din siya, pero kapormahan din ‘yon. Ginagamit talaga ‘yan sa campaign niya, ang aga nga niyang nag-umpisa eh (He could also be helping, but it could also be part of his political stance. It is being used in his campaign, and he did it early)," said Nicodemus in an interview with GMANews.TV on Tuesday.- Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV

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