Comelec: Over 14K aspirants registered socmed accounts for Eleksyon 2025

Two days ahead of the December 13 deadline, the number of aspirants who registered their social media accounts with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reached more than 14,000.

According to the Comelec, the number of aspirants who submitted their registration online increased to 7,301 as of Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Of the figures, 43 were senatorial aspirants; 7,085 were local aspirants; and 173 were party-list organizations.

Those who submitted hard copies for registration reached 3,312.

“Napakaimportante para sa mga kandidato at political parties ‘yung pagpaparehistro ng social media accounts sapagkat isa lang ang ibig sabihin: gusto niyo na kayo mismo nareregulate ang nalalagay para maiwasan ang disinformation, misinformation, at saka fake news,” said Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Thursday.

(It’s important for candidates and political parties to register their social media accounts because it signifies one thing: you want to regulate what you post yourself to avoid disinformation, misinformation, and fake news.)

“At syempre, ‘pag hindi nakarehistro pwede namin ipa-take down ang mga nakalagay dyan. Pero hindi namin papakialamanan ang content o nilalaman ng mismong social media post upang hindi mag-violate ng freedom of expression o speech,” Garcia said.

(Of course, if they are not registered, we can take down the content posted there. However, we will not interfere with the content of the social media posts themselves to avoid violating freedom of expression or speech.)

The Comelec set the deadline for the registration of online campaign platforms on Friday, December 13, 2024. There will be no extension on the deadline, the poll body earlier said.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 11064, all candidates, parties, and their campaign teams are mandated to register all of their official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and other online and internet-based campaign platform before the Comelec education and information division within 30 calendar days after the filing of certificates of candidacy.

An election task force will review the applications and will endorse them for approval or denial to the Commission en banc. Approved registrations will be published on the Comelec’s official website and social media accounts

Earlier, the Comelec amended the resolution, exempting privately-owned accounts endorsing candidates from the mandated registration. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News