Comelec prepared to combat fake news

With the start of the Overseas Absentee Voting tomorrow, April 13, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is also prepared for the spread of fake news.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said that during the 2016 elections, fake news attacking the integrity of the elections started spreading in the first hour of Overseas Absentee Voting.

Jimenez cited the case of one voter who complained about alleged irregularities in the counting of votes.

“Yung taong nagreklamo, gumamit siya ng ballpen para doon sa isang posisyon. Ginamitan niya ng marker yung iba. Tapos nung lumabas yung resibo, obviously yung ginamitan niya ng ballpen, hindi nabasa nung makina,” Jimenez said.

“The other most common strategy na nakita nating na-employ noong 2016 ay yung pagpapakalat ng impormasyon na tapos na ang voting at nabilang na ang mga boto at nanalo na si ganito o si ganyan,” Jimenez added.

Jimenez called on the public to inform the Comelec of possible fake news so these can be verified immediately. — BAP, GMA News