Joey Marquez, who, according to my fiance (who interviewed him for her undergraduate thesis), prides himself as not having finished high school (and therefore, can relate better with his constituents), is fighting a case that prohibits elected officials from engaging in other business while in office. The case is primarily directed at actors who continue to work as actors despite having a government office.
Marquez says:
his "very splendid career" as mayor is due to his performance as a local executive and not to his popularity as an actor. He said his performance "must have been outstanding and certainly one that is highly commendable," because he was voted mayor three consecutive times. To say that he was elected because he is popular "would be considered an insult or attack on the wisdom and integrity of (my) constituents," Marquez added.
He said many artists also ran for elective posts but lost.
Oh, please. Isn't there a law that prohibits oneself from saying something self-incriminating?
He continues that this right to work as an actor:
may not be taken away or impaired unless there is a paramount and compelling public interest.
Of course, this flies at the face of the Local Government Code of 1991 which states all local government executives "are prohibited from practicing their profession or engaging in any occupation other than the exercise of their functions as local chief executives."
See Lito Lapid's defense here. I find it un-f*cking-believable that these people can say that they were elected and re-elected solely based on their performance, and not their popularity (no doubt gained from their acting).
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