The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assures equal opportunity for all candidates in the upcoming 2025 elections, promising strict implementation and monitoring during the campaign period. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasizes the commitment to fair elections, highlighting the enforcement of guidelines from the Fair Elections Act and the Omnibus Election Code.
With just a few days before the start of the campaign period , the Commission on Elections ( Comelec ) pledged to provide equal opportunity to all candidates. Chairman George Erwin Garcia declared on Thursday that strict implementation and monitoring would be enforced during the campaign period for both national and local candidates. 'It is our commitment for the 2025 election campaign. Equal opportunity for all. That's our commitment to the Filipino people,' Garcia stated.
He emphasized that the Commission would ensure the meticulous implementation of guidelines outlined in Republic Act (RA) 9006 or the Fair Elections Act and Batas Pambansa 881 or the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), encompassing rules governing the conduct of election surveys and the submission of a complete, accurate, and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures (SOCE). Garcia explained that the Comelec would require candidates or political parties to disclose in their SOCE the utilization of social media influencers and celebrities in election campaigns, even if services were rendered gratis. 'If a candidate utilizes the services of well-known celebrities for campaign purposes, the common argument is that it was given for free by a friend or supporter, or the celebrity is a believer in the candidate's advocacy,' the poll chief noted. 'But now, we will no longer accept that kind of defense. We will always presume they were paid. Therefore, we will seek the amount paid by the candidate to the influencer or top celebrity,' he added. According to the law, all candidates must submit their SOCE within 30 days following election day. Winning candidates who exceeded their campaign spending limits may face removal from office, even if they have already assumed their positions. Regarding election surveys, Garcia pointed out that Section 32 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fair Elections Act sets forth specific requirements for the publication of political surveys. Section 32 clarifies that during the election period, any individual, candidate, or organization may conduct an election survey. However, they must disclose the entity, party, or organization that commissioned the survey, along with the name of the individual, polling firm, or organization responsible for conducting the survey. They must also provide details about the methodology employed, the number of respondents, the areas from which they were selected, and the specific questions asked. Additionally, they must state the margin of error of the survey and provide a mailing address and contact information for the sponsor, allowing for the retrieval of a written report concerning the survey
COMELEC Elections Campaign Period Equal Opportunity Fair Elections Act Omnibus Election Code SOCE Social Media Influencers Celebrities Election Surveys
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