Comelec's Garcia wants social media regulation law passed in Congress

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia on Tuesday expressed his approval for a passage of a law that would regulate social media, targeted to combat the proliferation of internet trolls, during election season.

In a radio interview, Garcia was asked if he will push for legislation that would prohibit trolls on social media during campaign period, should the Commission on Appointments confirm his appointment as a poll body Commissioner.

“Actually, dapat talagang i-pursige ‘yan. Dapat talaga sana, hindi naman sa pinapakialaman natin ang trabaho ng Kongreso, pero dapat magkaroon tayo ng social media regulation in the Philippines, kahit man lang sa campaign o eleksyon,” he said.

(Actually, that should really be pursued. We don’t want to interfere in the work of the Congress, but we really should have social media regulation in the Philippines, at least during the campaign or election period.)

He explained that without a law, the Comelec cannot make its own regulation to implicate a certain troll on social media and put him or her behind bars. He said the most that they could do is to file a cyber libel charge against the person, especially if the post is harmful.

“Siyempre, mas maganda sana kung may cyber libel na, meron pang isang election offense na magsasabi na election offense ‘to, lalo na ‘yung mga naghi-hire ng troll, merong mga troll farm, nai-involve sa troll, at ‘yung mismong involved na kawani diyan, puwedeng madamay. Sana ay maipasa na natin ‘yun,” Garcia said.

(It would be better if there was cyber libel and another election offense that would say that it is an election offense, especially among those who hire trolls, and are involved in trolls or troll farms. I hope we can pass that into law.)

“Dito sa isyu ng kampanya, limitado ang freedom of expression lalo na ang mga involved ay mga pulitiko at nasa loob sila ng campaign. Kaya nga po dapat susunod sila sa aming mga patakaran eh,” he added.

(Freedom of expression is limited when we talk about the campaign, especially those involved are politicians who are campaigning. That is why they must follow our rules.)

Comelec earlier formed the Task Force Kontra Fake News to counter any attempt to undermine the credibility of the electoral process of the recently concluded May 2022 national and local elections.

Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite earlier claimed that the Philippines has become a “haven for internet trolls.” They then urged the House Committee on Public Information to probe the supposed creation of troll farms by a government official as public funds are allegedly being utilized.

On the other hand, Garcia said Monday that the poll body is now investigating almost a thousand alleged vote-buying cases in relation to the elections.

Comelec then urged at least 210 concerned citizens who sent complaints to the Task Force Kontra Bigay to file their affidavit, together with their evidence, for a possible motu proprio case against the persons involved in vote buying or selling allegations.

However, of these 210 individuals, only three are willing to pursue their complaints. —KG, GMA News