Celeb endorsers told to take a leave or risk getting jailed

Celebrities endorsing candidates, such as Kris Aquino, Willie Revillame, and Dolphy, either need to resign or leave their television shows by next week or risk going to jail, reports the Inquirer.

According to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), it is mandatory for celebrities or any prominent media personality endorsing any running politician to leave their respective shows and networks in accordance to Section 6 (6.6) of the Fair Election Act which states:

"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 their employer, or shall take a leave of absence from his/her work as such during the campaign period."

PPCRV lawyer Howard Calleja told the Inquirer that any violation of the Fair Election Act, which would take effect next week, is subject to one to six years of imprisonment. He also stressed that each celebrity's media outfit should stop airing the celebrity endorser's shows while they are campaigning for their respective candidates.

Star-studded music video for Presidential candidate Sen. Noynoy Aquino

Calleja continued that the Fair Election Act applies to celebrities who are or have been involved in the campaigns in any way, whether their endorsements were shot or recorded prior to the campaign period, since their ads can still be aired during rallies or uploaded onto the Internet.

Presidential aspirant Joseph Estrada told the Inquirer that he had no need for celebrity promotion since his campaign is not a "stage show." It can be noted though that Estrada, himself, is also an actor whose latest movie, Ang Tanging Pamilya is currently being used for his own campaign.

In a separate interview, Presidential candidate, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, recalled how actress Judy Ann Santos' endorsement helped her win in the 2004 Senatorial election: "I have seen the folly of my ways. I'll not do it again."

List of presidential candidates with known celebrity endorsers:

(based on ABS-CBN News, PEP, and the Manila Bulletin)