Foreign posts ordered to go after netizens spreading false, alarming info on OAV

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued guidelines to foreign posts on how to handle complaints related to the overseas absentee voting as well as on how to deal with those spreading false claims of irregularities on social media.

In the directive, issued by Comelec's Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV), the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), the Special Board of Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG), and the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) are ordered to "record all complaints which are unfounded, baseless and frivolous."

The directive said the election officers must report these or file a complaint before the Comelec, backed with "all documentary evidence," including the names of the offenders, the addresses, if any, and other supporting papers.

Comelec Office for Overseas Voting issues directive to foreign posts re: handling complaints from voters, public. pic.twitter.com/Bnuc2h0LPw

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) April 29, 2016

The OFOV said in its directive that those spreading false and alarming reports will face criminal and election offfense cases.

"Basta may personal knowledge kami, or makita namin sa Facebook, na merong mga ganoong alarming na accusations against the Commission," OFOV director Jane Valeza told GMA News Online.

She said they constantly remind people via the Comelec's official Facebook page that the social networking site is not the proper forum for such accusations, and call on netizens to delete the posts "if you cannot substantiate... because there is penalty for that."

She said they also monitor posts on Twitter.

"'Yung iba, natatakot naman... Actually sa tingin ko alam naman nila, dini-delete naman nila. Marami nang nagdi-delete," Valeza said. "Pero 'yung ba na talagang malakas ang loob. Well, go ahead. We will just enforce what's in the law."

As of this week, the OFOV has received 32 incident reports from various posts overseas.

Remain united, steadfast

Valeza, meanwhile, urged Philippine officials abroad who are involved in the conduct overseas absentee voting to remain "united and steadfast" amid accusations of poll irregularities, particularly on social media.

"Gawin n'yo ang trabaho ninyo, 'wag kayong magpapaapekto," she said. "Lalo na sa mga unfounded na accusations because at the end of the day, ipapakita naman natin na wala kayong ginawang masama."

Valeza said some officers have sought advice from her office regarding complaints and accusations being thrown against them and the Comelec via social media.

GMA News Online has reached a diplomat who lamented the treatment they have gotten from some candidates' supporters on social media.

The diplomat, who asked not to be named, claimed they have been accused of cheating in the elections. The official said this came with harassment at Filipino community events and their home addresses posted on Facebook.

How to handle complaints

Meanwhile, part of the OFOV directive to elections officers are procedures on how to handle complaints made by voters or the general public.

The directive, addressed to Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, was signed by Comm. Arthur Lim, who heads the Comelec committee on OAV.

According to the directive, complaints may either be those formally filed before the SBEIs in the polling places, or even those posted on social networking sites.

Voters are encouraged to have their complaints in writing, which they will swear to before any election officer. Voters will be given a certification afterwards.

The directive, however, also provides: "In case no written complaint has been filed, but the same has come to the attention of the electoral boards concerned, the complaint must be recorded in the Minutes of Voting nonetheless."

It added that the election officers concerned must act upon "all written and unwritten complaints" and submit them to OFOV in Manila within 24 hours.

Some 1.3 million Filipinos registered for the 2016 polls, with more than 200,000 voters having cast their ballots as of this week. Voting abroad closes at 5 p.m. May 9, Manila time. —KBK, GMA News