Comelec to monitor political ads on Internet

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be monitoring closely all political advertisements on the Internet including social networking and microblogging sites such as Facebook and twitter.

In a resolution promulgated January 15, the Comelec said that “Political advertising includes matters, not falling within the scope of personal opinion, that appear on any Internet website, including, but not limited to, social networks, blogging sites, and micro-blogging sites.”

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters Wednesday that people will not be prohibited from posting messages of support for their candidates since it would be considered as freedom of expression.

Those working in the government however cannot be publicly endorsing candidates on online sites, he said.

“Personal opinions, views, and preferences for candidates, contained in blogs shall not be considered acts of election campaigning or partisan political activity unless expressed by government officials in the Executive Department, the Legislative Department, the Judiciary, the Constitutional Commissions, and members of the Civil Service,” the resolution said.

When asked how they would limit candidates in using the online medium, Brillantes said that the limit was on how much they spend. Since Facebook and twitter accounts, for example, are free, then there technically won’t be any limit.

“We will be implementing this resolution and then we will observe once the campaign starts,” Brillantes said.

“There really isn’t any prohibition, but in coming out with this resolution we are saying they would limit it,” he said. “We can always amend the resolution or supplement the resolution after we see [what] rules are being abused.”

The resolution also covers regulations on the size of posters and published ads, airtime of candidates on television and radio stations, and location of common poster areas as well as prohibited places for posters.