Comelec to monitor online ad spending in Eleksyon 2022 — official

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday vowed to monitor candidates’ spending on social media in the May 2022 polls.

Candidates will likely increase their engagements on social media as mass gatherings, which used to be a common sight in campaigns, remain prohibited to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“We will control that in relation to spending limits,” Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, adding the poll body classified advertising on social media networks as broadcast ads.

“Social media presence will be a major thing for campaigns. It’s a great equalizer probably for people or candidates who have less funding.”

Candidates and political parties are required to file campaign expenditure reports days after the elections.

The Comelec earlier said it would study the possibility of modifying campaign rules amid the challenges posed by the pandemic.

It has also assured the public there will be presidential debates, but it has yet to decide whether it will be conducted virtually, physically, or through a hybrid setup. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News