The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday suggested that a new law be crafted to limit campaigning on social media especially as most Eleksyon 2022 candidates are expected to persuade voters online during the pandemic.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they can only monitor the candidates’ spending in producing advertisements and boosting social media posts.
But beyond that, Jimenez, said there is no identified limit to using these platforms.
“‘Di katulad sa TV kung saan mayroon kang number of minutes na mayroong lampasan. Walang ganu’n sa social media,” said Jimenez in an interview on Dobol B TV.
(It’s not like in television, wherein you must only have this limited airing for a number of minutes. We don’t have that for social media.)
“Kung may kailangang pag-amyenda, sa ganu’ng direksyon. Kailangan magkaroon ng bagong batas para magsabi kung ano na ang limitation sa paggamit ng social media,” he added.
(If we amend it, it could be in that new direction. We need a new law that will tell us the limitation on campaigning using social media.)
Jimenez previously admitted that they monitor expenditures of candidates but they cannot do anything about those who will campaign early.
As for the issue of flying voters, Jimenez said they have biometrics and identification systems to screen voter registrants.
He, likewise, warned that flying voters may face complaints and a penalty of a six-year detention.
The campaign period for the national posts’ candidates is set from February 8 to May 7, 2022.
Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates in local elective posts is set from March 25 to May 7, 2022.
Eleksyon 2022 will be held on May 9, 2022. —KG, GMA News
Comelec suggests new law on limitations of social media campaigning
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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