Comelec seeks social media regulation of poll candidates

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Monday urged Congress to craft a law allowing the poll body to regulate a candidate’s social media posts during campaign periods. 

“Ang problema diyan ay yung fake news, misinformation, disinformation,” Garcia told reporters. “Probelma natin ngayon ‘pag nakita ng ating mga kababayan sa social media, balita na sa kanila,.” 

(The problem is fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. Our problem right now is when our  countrymen see a post, it is automatically news for them.)

Garcia said the Comelec could only coordinate with social media administrators to remove a post, which could take months.

“At most, ang na mo-monitor namin ay yung gastos,” the Comelec Chairman added.

(At most, we can monitor the candidate’s expenses in their social media campaign.)

“Once na tumakbo ka, it’s a priviledge, not a right and therefore, tumakbo ka kaya dapat limitado ka,” He added.

(Once you run for public office, it’s a privilege, not a right. Therefore, there should be limits to campaign posts.)

According to Comelec Resolution 10730 or the “Fair Election Act,” election campaigns on television and radio are limited to 120 minutes and 180 minutes for candidates running for a national position, respectively.

Posters, meanwhile, should be limited to a size not exceeding 2ft by 3ft.

The Philippines will hold its midterm election in May 2025. — DVM, GMA Integrated News