Edu Manzano: 'No matter how many [celebrity] endorsers you have, it doesn’t always mean that you are guaranteed of winning.'

Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano vowed to fight a recent order issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) restricting celebrities from endorsing candidates in the coming polls.

In an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online, Manzano is seemingly as confused as anybody about the ruling.

“I’ll be filing a petition in the Supreme Court tomorrow asking for a TRO [on the directive] and… in effect, [I’ll be asking] for the PPCRV to be clearer [about their recommendation].”

The Comelec made the warning after the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) appealed to celebrities endorsing candidates to take a leave of absence from their work.

In a TV interview, Ferdinand Rafanan of the Comelec Law Department said the ruling is covered in Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act.

The poll body issued Comelec Resolution 8758 that provided the implementing rules for RA 9006, February 4.

Section 6.6 of the Fair Elections Act reads: “Any mass media columnist, commentator, announcer, reporter, on-air correspondent or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office or is a campaign volunteer for or employed or retained in any capacity by any candidate or political party shall be deemed resigned, if so required by [his] employer, or shall take a leave of absence from his/her work as such during the campaign period: Provided, That any media practitioner who is an official of a political party or a member of the campaign staff of a candidate or political party shall not use his/her time or space to favor any candidate or political party.”

“The Problem about this [directive] apparently is that… it’s been there for a long time but then the people assigned [by their respective political parties to] look for endorsers. And the endorsers themselves don’t know, or have no knowledge about it,” Manzano adds.

Reacting to what Rafanan said regarding having those who violate the provision be punished by one to six years imprisonment, Manzano, himself a former model and actor, expressed concern on how the ruling would affect workers from show business.

“If the spirit of this law is to level the playing field then I can understand that but [there should be clear parameters]. I understand this could even affect artists who [aside from endorsing candidates] don’t have work… this is about their livelihood. Kawawa naman.”

“I think the Comelec should be clear on this… on their interpretation [of the law].”

Manzano admits their party has enlisted a couple of celebrity endorsers. “We have. My son [actor Luis Manzano] and 10 more artists have volunteered their services… but [because of the ruling] I might not allow it anymore. For these individuals to suffer… to be denied their paycheck for helping us then… I can’t allow that. We are talking about [their] livelihood here.”

Asked if the ruling is testament to how media personalities still hold great sway in influencing votes, Manzano begged to differ.

“That theory has been shot full of holes. [There are] many artists—artists who have aspired for public office—that had been denied the chance [to serve] so… I don’t agree.

“Also, no matter how many [celebrity] endorsers you have, it doesn’t always mean that you are guaranteed of winning… especially now. If you look at the [current] demographic of voters… a lot of them are students…a lot of them are thinking voters, so, no.”