MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia assured the public on Monday that they can criticize the poll body.
Garcia’s remark came after Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay threatened to jail individuals who called the poll body “biased or that it would cause election fraud.”
READ: Comelec commissioner threatens to jail critics
“Ginagarantiya ko po sa inyo, okay na okay po. Huwag po kayo mag-aalala. Pwedeng-pwede niyo po kaming tuligsain. Pwedeng-pwede po kayong mag-oppose sa aming ginagawa. Pwedeng-pwede po kayo magbigay ng inyong sentimyento sa Commission on Elections,” Garcia said on TeleRadyo’s Sakto.
(I guarantee you, it is okay. Do not worry. You can criticize us. You can oppose what we do. You can give sentiments to the Commission on Elections.)
“Sa isang demokrasya maganda po ‘yan sapagkat nakakatulong po ‘yan upang pag-ayusin naming mabuti ang aming ginagawa, upang mas lalo pa namin pag-isipan kung tama o mali ‘yung aming ginagawa,” he added.
(In a democracy, criticizing is good as it helps us improve our services, to push us to think further if what we are doing is right or wrong.)
READ: Disown Bulay threat to critics, Comelec urged
According to Garcia, the commission only goes after individuals who are spreading false information and who undermine the electoral process.
“Kung saka-sakali man pong kami ay hahabulin namin ‘yung mga ibang tao dahil lang sa pagkakalat ng fake news, dahil lang sa pag-a-undermine ng electoral process,” he said.
(We only go after people because they spread fake news and undermine the electoral process.)
“Pero ‘yun pong kayo po ay magko-komento, huwag po kayo mag-aalala, huwag kayo matatakot. ‘Yan po ay ating karapatan sa ating Konstitusyon. Ang tawag po diyan ay freedom of expression,” continued Garcia.
(But if you comment a, do not worry, do not fear. That is our right under the Constitution. We call that freedom of expression.)
Comelec earlier created Task Force Kontra (Against) Fake News to eliminate any attempt to destroy the electoral process’ credibility.
READ: Comelec creates anti-fake news task force