Politics, Campaign
Financing and Corruption
By Ramon Casiple, Executive
Director
Institute for Political and Electoral Reform
Introduction I
Philippines is
121st out of 161
countries
surveyed in
2006 re
corruption
perception
index. It was
106th in 2004
and 117th in
2005. It shares
place with
Nepal and
Indonesia. (TI
2006)
Introduction II
• Corruption affects 70 percent of
Philippine politics
Introduction III
• However, there is only 5-10 percent
bribery experience for Philippine
households in 2005.
The Theory of Philippine Elections
• Elections for the presidency, vice-presidency,
and senatorial positions every six years (half
of senate every three years)
• Elections for representatives (single-district
and party-list), and local officials (governors,
provincial board members, mayors,
councilors, barangay chairperson and council
members) every three years
• President/vice-president have only one term;
senators are allowed two terms, and all others
have three terms
The Theory of Philippine Elections
• The constitutionally-mandated Commission
on Elections (Comelec) has both
administrative and quasi-judicial functions
regarding elections.
• It can deputize practically the whole
government for electoral duties and has
regulatory powers over all election-related
activities.
• It has the authority to settle pre-proclamation
cases, proclaim winners except the president
and vice-president position, and postproclamation protests involving local officials
Philippine Constitutional Democracy
• Elective officials as either executives or
legislators in a republican structure of
government
– Bicameral Congress, with Senate and House of
Representatives
– Executive department under the President, assisted
by the Cabinet
– Local government supervised by the President
• Judiciary under the Supreme Court and
constitutional commissions whose members
are appointed by the President and confirmed
by the bicameral Congressional Committee on
Appointments
Philippine Constitutional Democracy
• Constitutional commissions handle the
elections, audit, anti-corruption, and
civil service components of government.
A human rights commission is mandated
by the Constitution
• Non-governmental organizations are
recognized under the constitution and
the government is required to work with
them, including electoral work.
Campaign financing laws
• 1987 Constitution
– Mandates Comelec to regulate
campaign spending
– Ban foreign electoral contribution
– Supervise use of government permits
or franchises during elections
• The intent here is to ensure equal
opportunity in running for elective
positions
Campaign financing laws
• Omnibus Election Code (1985)
– Sets spending cap on election expenditures
– Spell out prohibited contributions,
especially from those with connection to
government
– Spell out legal categories of spending and
donations
– Laid out the rules and process for
accepting donations, recording of
contributions and expenditures, reporting,
and penalties
Campaign financing laws
• RA 7166 (Synchronized Elections)
– Sets the spending cap to PhP 10 (US$ .20)
per voter for a presidential and vicepresidential candidate
– Sets the spending cap to PhP 3 (US$ .06)
per voter for all other candidates in
respective constituencies
– Sets the spending cap to PhP 5 (US$ .10)
per voter for political parties in
constituencies where they have official
candidates
Campaign financing laws
• Major questions
– Weak supervision of political parties
– Unrealistic spending caps
– No ceiling on campaign contributions
– Weaknesses of the Comelec in audit
and supervision of political parties
and candidates
– Light penalties for infractions or
violations
Reality of Philippine elections
• Some income statistics (2003)
– Average family income: PhP 148,616 (US$
3,033)
– Average family expenses: PhP 124,377
(US$ 2,538)
– Per capita poverty threshold: PhP 12,309
(US$ 251), those below are 24.4% of all
families
– Nearly 80% have income below average
The Tale of the Pocket in Elections
Presidential Campaign:
– PhP 2.5 billion-PhP 5 billion
• Senatorial Campaign:
– PhP 150 million-PhP 500 million
• Congressional Campaign:
– PhP 3 million-PhP 100 million
• Governatorial Campaign
– PhP 5 million-PhP 150 million
• Mayoralty Campaign
– PhP 1 million-PhP 100 million
Reality of Philippine elections
• Campaign funds come mainly from major
candidates, self-raised funds, and
financiers.
• Party-raised funds are scarce due to very
weak political party system.
• Illegal sources such as illegal gambling
lords, drug lords, bank robbery and
kidnapping, and smugglers have entered
the picture.
Reality of Philippine elections
• Patronage politics replaced party-based
politics.
• Personality-oriented electoral choice replaced
platform-based choice.
• Popularity and media projection have risen in
importance.
• Use of government resources by incumbents
are widespread.
• Electoral process becomes dishonest, and
subject to undue pressures.
Reality of Philippine elections
• The other side
– The party-list system has enabled small and
genuine political parties to develop and
enter Congress
– Local contests have been won on the basis
of strong organizations and active citizenry
– Electoral reform movement now awakening
more people towards participation in
electoral watchdog and monitoring,
advocacy for stronger electoral laws, and
citizen-voter education
Party/Campaign Finance Reforms
• State supervision of political parties as
public institutions
• Strengthening party discipline and ban
on turncoatism
• State subsidy for political
parties/candidates
• Restrictions on campaign expenditures
• Transparency and accountability in
campaign finance reporting
• Citizen-voter education
The whole reform package
• First, legislative acts for broadening the
people’s participation in elections and
governance, amending electoral laws,
campaign financing reforms, and
strengthening the political party system;
• second, reform initiatives such as electoral
modernization, citizen-voter education,
revamping and reforming the election
administration, and harnessing civil society
for electoral duties; and
• Third, constitutional reforms to depoliticize
election administration and enable nonpartisan conduct of elections
Conclusion
• Money and politics in current Philippine
elections have a symbiotic relationship.
• The situation leads to a spiralling momentum
downwards:
– More corruption in the system, maldevelopment of
the economy, and poverty for most of the people.
– Vitiation of political will for reforms and for the
people’s welfare.
– When government is perceived to be only for a
small economic and political elite, the seeds for
social unrest is sown.
– Vast majority is basically shut out of meaningful
participation in the nation’s affairs through public
service and leadership.
A final word
There is urgent need to break the vicious
cycle of money politics and corruption.
Only a comprehensive set of political
and electoral reforms can do it.
However, the people themselves will have
to do it, not the traditional politicians.