Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO
MANILA, Philippines — Political candidates sometimes issue “misleading” statements as part of their election campaign, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said Thursday, a day after he flagged a press release from the camp of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Hindi ko naman masasabi na it goes all the way up to the chief of staff. Meron naman syempreng campaign machinery… Maybe some writer down the line thought that’s the good way of writing it. Baka gusto niya ganun ang framing para makakuha ng atensyon, makakuha ng likes, whatever,” Jimenez told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(I cannot say it goes all the way up to the chief of staff. Of course, they have campaign machinery… Maybe some writer thought that’s a good way of writing it. Maybe he or she wants that kind of framing so the PR can get attention or likes on social media.)
“Pero part naman talaga ng kampanya kung minsan na naglalabas sila (candidates) ng misleading na articles. Kailangan lang syempre sa ating mga botante, kailangan maging mapanuri lang po sila,” he added.
(But sometimes, it’s really part of the campaign to release misleading statements. The voting public should really just think critically.)
Jimenez earlier described as “misleading” a press release from Marcos’ camp that seeks to discredit a petition recently filed against the latter’s candidacy for president. The petition seeks to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy due to his conviction in a tax case.
READ: Comelec spox flags ‘misleading’ statement from Marcos’ camp
The controversial press release issued Wednesday by the team of Marcos quoted Jimenez as saying that a case for disqualification filed against Marcos has no clear basis. However, Jimenez noted that the interview from which the press release apparently took the quotes was conducted before the disqualification case against Marcos was filed before the poll body.
READ: Petition to cancel COC of Bongbong Marcos filed before Comelec
“The PR [press release] is misleading. The quote was referring to why Senator Marcos hadn’t yet been disqualified despite the fact of his conviction. The original quote should have been taken in the context of the fact that the Senator ran for VP (vice president) in 2016. That quote was not intended in any way as a comment on the current petition recently filed,” he explained Wednesday.
Lawyer Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of Marcos, nevertheless insisted that they stand by their controversial press release even asserting that Marcos’ eligibility to run for office in 2010 should still be valid now despite his conviction in a tax case.
Jimenez said he cannot confirm yet if this will be the case this time.
“Hindi ko masasabi because live case ito eh (I cannot say yet because this is a live case). It could be unwise for me to speculate on that. But all of these facts will be raised in defense,” he added.