February 6, 2025
Manila – The Election Commission (COMELEC) will assume that any online recognition provided by celebrities, internet personality or social media influencers is supported by candidates running for the May 12 national and local elections.
At a news forum in Manila on Wednesday, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that polling agencies will soon adopt a resolution requiring online recognition (whether it is a payment or a donation) by candidates on their statements of donations and spending ( Reported in SOCES.
“When using celebrities [to endorse a candidate]we will assume that celebrities are paid, so [the candidate] We should not be told that it (recognized) is free because celebrities are friends or admirers because there is a presumption of payment now. ” Garcia told reporters.
Read: Comelec decides next week's paid recognition for next week's poll
“We don’t follow celebrities or influencers, we are pursuing candidates [the endorsement] It's free because if it's free, it's donating. “He said.
According to him, Comelec policy will not include the definition of a celebrity, and each recognition will be treated on a case-by-case basis, because the author may not be a celebrity at all.
Exemption
But Garcia clarified that the regulation does not apply to online spokespersons related to candidates until the second degree of harmony, saying: “There is no value for love.” [by a relative-endorser]. ”
The exemption will also apply to current government officials and politicians who recognize other candidates, especially if they are partisans.
Garcia said the recognition of free or donation will be allocated to the same amount and taxes will be taxed based on online celebrities.
By law, all candidates, whether they are won or lost, must be submitted to their respective societies within 30 days of Election Day.
Defects in society, including the failure to report contributions such as recognition, may result in penalties on candidates such as administrative fines or permanent disqualification of public office.
