Prominent election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to educate the producers of Batang Quiapo after a recent episode misrepresented election laws, particularly on premature campaigning.
Macalintal’s statement follows Comelec Commissioner George Garcia’s concern over the public’s limited understanding of the poll body’s mandate, sparked by a beauty pageant contestant on It’s Showtime admitting she had little knowledge about Comelec.
In the March 5 episode of Batang Quiapo, a scene depicted Manila’s mayor, played by Albert Martinez, confronting the vice mayor, portrayed by Chanda Romero, over alleged premature campaigning. Macalintal pointed out that the scene misleads viewers, as there is no law prohibiting premature campaigning in the country.
He further noted that since some election-related scenes were shot at Manila City Hall, real-life officials, including Mayor Honey Lacuna, may not appreciate being linked to inaccuracies about election laws. He suggested that Batang Quiapo’s producer and Martinez should be invited by Comelec for an orientation on election regulations, especially since the show’s current storyline revolves around elections.
Macalintal also called for a reminder on the proper depiction of firearms, given the frequent display of high-powered weapons in the series. He emphasized the responsibility of the show’s creators to ensure they provide accurate information to prevent public confusion on election-related matters.
This comes after It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda recently expressed concern over a contestant’s lack of awareness about Comelec, highlighting a broader issue of public understanding of election laws.
