After OSG petition, Comelec halts implementation of info campaign deal with Rappler

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday suspended the implementation of its voter information campaign deal with news site Rappler after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court to nullify it. 

Acting Comelec chairperson Socorro Inting signed the memorandum ordering the suspension, which was addressed to poll body spokesperson James Jimenez.

“Given the allegations against Rappler and the subsequent filing of the petition with the Supreme Court, it is judicious for the Commission to hold in abeyance the implementation of the provisions of the MOA (memorandum of agreement) until the issues are settled and/or decision of the court is rendered,” Inting said.

“All actions in connection with the MOA shall be deferred including coordination between the Commission and Rappler on matters of the MOA." 

In a statement after the petition was filed on Monday, Solicitor General Jose Calida reiterated his claim that Rappler is a foreign corporation, and that its participation in the Philippine elections through the MOA was thus considered foreign interference, a violation of the country's election laws and the 1987 Constitution.

Inting said the poll body would defend the agreement, which seeks to promote voter engagement and fight disinformation, before the high court.

"We cannot do anything but face the music, answer the petition and defend the MOA that we signed with Rappler," she said at a press conference on Monday.

"Whatever decision that the court will render, we will abide [by it]."

Rappler had repeatedly stressed that it was a Filipino-owned entity and the MOA was the same pact that the poll body entered into with other media organizations to inform the electorate of factual poll-related information. — VBL, GMA News