Comelec building in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday created a task force to go after fake news that aims to undermine the electoral process, Commissioner George Garcia announced.
“The Commission today created Task Force Kontra Fake News,” Garcia said in a press briefing at the Comelec office in Manila.
“That is our, to make a point, that we are so desirous in eliminating any attempt by anyone, by any individual or entity, to destroy the credibility of our electoral process,” he added.
Garcia, a veteran election lawyer, also confirmed to reporters that he will be the commissioner-in-charge of the task force while Commissioner Aimee Neri will serve as the vice-chair.
The task force’s main concern, according to him, is the fake news directed against the Comelec and not the misinformation hurled against candidates.
“They (politicians) can properly defend themselves. What we are so worried about at this point is the fake news that is spreading against the Commission,” Garcia said.
“The task force will not go on against anyone who is opposing the Commission on Elections, or anyone who is criticizing the Commission on Elections, but any misinformation directed against the [Comelec’s] integrity, we will go after them, and file a case against them and we will utilize the full force of the law,” he likewise explained.
Garcia further said that Comelec will ask social media sites like Facebook to assist the task force.
Guidelines for the task force, meanwhile, will be drafted soon, he noted.
The Comelec earlier created a task force to investigate alleged incidents of vote-buying. Commissioner Aimee Ferolino was put in charge of Task Force Kontra Bigay.