At the cusp of Eleksyon 2025, the public awaits the familiar electoral rhythm of campaign jingles and ads of political aspirants made viral in the digital age.
Comelec’s Social Media Registration Deadline: Key Statistics
December 13 2024 heralded the end of the registration period of the official social media accounts of political aspirants for the 2025 Election.
The Commission on Elections (“Comelec”) set the non-extensible deadline and reported over 13, 000 online registrations including 70 senatorial hopefuls, 237 party-list organizations, and 13, 416 local pollical contenders.
Understanding Comelec Resolution No. 11064 for Digital Campaigns:
The digital campaign mandate is solidly grounded on Comelec Resolution No 11064 which regulates the use and provides sanctions for the misuse of social media, artificial intelligence, and internet technology for purposes of digital election campaigning for the 2025 National and Local Elections and the BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
Under the poll body mandate, political aspirants in this Eleksyon 2025 are given a 30-day window after the filing of their certificates of candidacy within which to register all of their official social media accounts and pages, podcasts, vlogs, and other online campaign platforms before the Comelec education and information division.
Non-Compliance Consequences: Takedowns and Disqualification Risks:
Failure to comply with the social media registration requirement, the concerned candidate, political party/coalition, party-list organization, and their respective social media campaign managers must explain why a complaint for violating the Comelec guidelines should not be filed against them.
Non-compliance also warrants the blocking of the contents of the unregistered social media accounts, or its takedown. It could also justify a candidate’s disqualification from the political race.
Task Force KKK Sa Halalan: Implementing Comelec’s Digital Mandates
The Task Force KKK Sa Halalan, led by the Education and Information Department (EID) and the Law Department of the Comelec are tasked to implement and enforce the said guidelines. Task Force KKK Sa Halalan is designated, among other things to receive, review, and validate registration forms, and endorse applications for approval or denial to the Commission en banc. Approved social media accounts will then be published across Comelec’s official digital media platforms.
Comelec chairman George Garcia assured that Comelec would not intrude on candidates’ posts but reserves the prerogative to monitor online content for possible ethical violations.
Monitoring Campaign Expenses Through Social Media Oversight
The social media registration also serves another purpose: to monitor campaign expenses, particularly the hiring of “influencers” to boost candidates’ political capital. Post-election, candidates are required to declare in their statement of campaign contributions and expenses how much they shelled out for their campaign.
Election Integrity in the Digital Age: Combating Disinformation
The impetus for the poll body resolution is to strengthen election integrity, promote transparency, and curb the spread of disinformation during the campaign period in a digital age.
Now, the public awaits if the new measure will crescendo into a new era of political campaigning or drone on old political rhythms.
Legal Expertise for Digital Election Campaigns in 2025
The Firm understands how elections are reconstructed to yield to the demands of the digital age. Navigating the digital planes of the 2025 Elections requires seeing the entire and evolving election landscape. The demand for legal experts adept at handling election and political cases proves vital in order to ensure a level playing field and a fair and free electoral process.
Written by: Atty. Denisse Kirsten Lourds Madrid
References:
- Resolution No. 11064 (September 25, 2024) – Guidelines On The Use Of Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, And Internet Technology, For Digital Election Campaign, And The Prohibition And Punishment Of Its Misuse For Disinformation, And Misinformation, In Connection With The 2025 National And Local Elections And The Barmm Parliamentary Elections