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Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

Comelec to poll bets: Register social media accounts or face raps


Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday warned poll bets that they may face election offense or disqualification cases if they will not register their social media accounts under the digital election campaign guidelines.

This is what Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said when he was asked what’s going to happen if a candidate or aspirant refuses to register their social media accounts.

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“It’s included in the guidelines we posted so let’s not be stubborn. The Comelec has the power to disqualify and file election offenses, which may include one to six years of imprisonment,” Garcia said in an ambush interview.

READ: Comelec releases guidelines for digital election campaign

The guidelines of the digital election campaign include the use of social media platforms, artificial intelligence, and the internet for the digital campaign as well as the prohibition and punishment for spreading disinformation and misinformation for the 2025 midterm elections.

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READ: Primer: What to know about the 2025 Philippine elections

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All registered social media accounts and other candidates’ platforms, political parties, and organizations are required to disclose their AI usage and use appropriate technology to identify the sources’ legitimacy.

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Further, the poll body chief reminded aspirants to register their social media accounts until December 13. Garcia said that as of Monday, there have been 62 hard copy registrations coming from national and local poll bets.

“If I am the nominee or the party-list organization, why would I be scared to register if I wanted to be regulated by Comelec…Those who are scared are the ones who will abuse because they have money or the means. It should not be like that,” Garcia added.

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Garcia also explained that Comelec will not intervene with the contents the aspirants will publish in their accounts. However, Garcia stressed that the posts should not be against any ethical or moral standards.

“Because when the Comelec intrudes, it will be violating the freedom of expression and freedom of speech and that’s something we will not allow because a regulation is not a reason to violate human rights under the Constitution,” Garcia said.



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The poll body also announced that Comelec will be publishing the names of party-list nominees on its website on October 23 as their vow for transparency to prevent another case of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo who sought and won mayoral seat despite having alleged fake information on birth certificate.





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