Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo said on Thursday that some political candidates are already overspending on political advertisements.

“Definitely candidates are over spending but we cannot do something about it because we cannot determine it [that they overspend] based on the statement of contributions and expenditures that they are required to submit after the elections,” Melo said.

“They can cover that up by saying that it was paid for by somebody or that it was donated by someone,” added Melo.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez also said that they can not charge those politicians who already have ads on TV, radio, or print for violating the election law since they have not yet filed their certificates of candidacy (CoC).

Under the rules of the Comelec, candidates for president, vice-president, senatorial, political parties, and party-list groups can only spend P5.00 per registered voter while official candidates of political parties are allowed to spend P3.00 for every registered voter.

Meanwhile, four presidential aspirants will present their own vision for the first 100 days of their administration before a global audience of overseas Filipino workers and seafarers during the Usapan OFW Forum on Saturday, August 1, organized by the Blas F. Ople Policy Center in partnership with DZMM Teleradyo of ABS-CBN Corporation.

Susan “Toots” Ople, daughter of the late foreign affairs secretary, said that Senators Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, and Mar Roxas, and Gov. Ed Panlilio agreed to participate in the first-ever Usapan OFW Forum to be held at the Dolphy Studio of ABS-CBN from 4 to 6 pm on Saturday.

Moderators of the forum are top DZMM anchors Henry Omaga Diaz and Jasmine Romero, together with Susan Ople.