Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Only 31 percent of the 43,033 individuals who filed their certificates of candidacy for the May 12 elections registered their social media accounts, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
A total of 70 senatorial bets submitted registration forms — exceeding the 66 Senate candidates the Comelec approved.
According to the poll body, it has not received any restraining order on any of the 117 other senatorial aspirants who have been declared nuisance candidates.
READ: Poll watchdogs laud Comelec’s update on social media regulations
Meanwhile, 237 party-list groups, organizations, and coalitions have also sent their registration. For aspirants vying for local positions, only 13,416 have registered their social media accounts.
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Comelec Chair George Garcia insisted the poll body would not extend the deadline.
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“There will be no extension. If you don’t want your posts or accounts removed then you must register your social media accounts,” he said.
In September, the poll body issued Resolution No. 11064 to regulate election campaigning on social media platforms, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and internet technology for the 2025 national and local elections and the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
It was also meant to stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation and level the playing field in online campaigning.
The resolution would also empower the poll body to monitor the online campaigning and spending of candidates. Garcia noted that candidates may spend millions to pay online influencers, who enjoy a large following on different social media platforms.
However, election watchdogs and other stakeholders criticized the resolution for having an overly broad scope, which might infringe on the right to free speech and privacy.
The Comelec eventually relaxed its rules on private personalities and entities, including so-called “online influencers,” who might be used for campaigning in elections.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 11064-A approved in November, the poll body amended its previous resolution requiring the registration of all official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and other online and internet-based campaign platforms of the candidates, parties, their campaign teams as well as private individuals or entities, that are endorsing the election or defeat of a candidate in next year’s elections.
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The amended resolution also removed the sanctions for private individuals for failure to register their social media accounts, websites, and digital and internet-based campaign platforms.
