Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29) – As the campaign period for local candiates begins Friday, the country’s poll body again reminds those running for office about the rules they should follow.
Speaking to CNN Philippines New Day Friday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez pointed out what they were looking out for, specifically for campaigns launched on social media.
“There are practically no parameters for the use of social media, except that expenses going to content production and content promotion will have to be reported by the camapign to the Comelec,” he said.
Jimenez told CNN Philippines both private citizens and a candidate’s team will have to report to the Comelec costs incurred in the production and promotion of campaign material.
“This is a very important point I’d like to emphasize. If you’re a regular person, if you’re supporting a candidate and you want to use social media to make your position known, you’re free to do so, that is not regulated. Candidates can put out materials on social media without restriction. The only thing that the COMELEC, at this point, is regulating cost of content production and promotion. Which means we want to know how much it cost you to put together that video, to put together that commercial that you’re airing for free on the internet. And second, we want to know how much it cost you to push that message out to the people,” said Jimenez.
He added, the COMELEC would be able to monitor campaign material appearing online, only needing to check where a particular ad or commercial was first published.
The poll body earlier said candidates should register their online pages.
Comelec Resolution 10488, released on January 30, said, “Each registered political party and candidate shall register with the Education and Information Department of the Comelec, the website name and web address of the official blog and/or social media page of such political party and candidate.”
It went on to say other blogs or sites whose primary purpose is to promote the candidates or parties — even when they are not directly maintained or administered by the candidates or their official campaign representatives will be counted as additional pages.
Comelec: Candidates should only post in common poster areas #TheFilipinoVotes pic.twitter.com/xcbe9CQYUf
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) March 28, 2019
