Practice question
An independent citizen group posts its own policy positions on private property during an election. It is not acting as a candidate’s agent, and no sufficient constitutional basis for suppression is established. Officials prohibit the expression solely because the speakers never filed candidacy and therefore supposedly have no electoral-debate rights. Which follows Diocese?
- Only candidates may discuss electoral issues
- Noncandidate citizens retain expression rights; noncandidacy alone does not place their policy speech outside protection
- Private ownership automatically makes every act immune from law
- The State may suppress all citizen views to favor official campaigns
- A campaign title is a constitutional prerequisite for every political opinion
Legal references
- Diocese of Bacolod v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 205728, January 21, 2015, main decision: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2015/jan2015/gr_205728_2015.html
- 1987 Constitution, Article III, Section 4: https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/3/353
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