Comelec chief wants body’s socmed rules amended

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia. —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday he would push to amend the poll body’s regulations on the use of social media to exempt from registration privately owned accounts that endorse political candidates for next year’s midterm elections.

“I will ask [the commission en banc] for the removal of the registration and regulation [of social-media accounts] of private individuals. I believe that the point is correct that we can’t cover private individuals,” Garcia told reporters.

READ: Comelec asked: Repeal rules on AI, social media

“So for example, if a private individual likes what a candidate posted and shared it, the private individual should not be covered [by the rules] because he is neither a candidate or a political party,” he added.

According to Garcia, he expects the Comelec en banc to act on his proposal anytime this week “to protect the constitutional rights of freedom of expression and speech.” — Jerome Aning