Comelec: Bets' use of foul language, discrimination now considered election offenses

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued Tuesday a new resolution declaring all election-related activities and online election-related platforms including social media as “safe spaces” for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE). 

Comelec Resolution No. 11127 amends Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines, which includes discrimination against women and gender-based harassment. It likewise covers acts of bullying and discrimination involving gender, ethnicity, age, religion, and disabilities, among others.

“In-approve natin ang amendment sa ating resolution with the inclusion of safe spaces. Sinasabi natin dapat magc-create tayo dapat ng safe spaces sa elections tulad ng canvassing areas, voting areas,” poll chief George Erwin Garcia told reporters.

(We approved the amended resolution today with the inclusion of safe spaces. We want to create safe spaces in the elections such as in canvassing areas and voting areas.)

“Ang paggamit ng foul languages, iiwasan. Ang pag-discriminate against women, the elderly, PWDs, and other vulnerable sectors pipigilan din…Sinasabi rin natin na iiwasan ang campaign jingles na may double meaning,” he said. 

(We want bets to refrain from using foul language and from discriminating against women, the elderly, PWDs, and other vulnerable sectors. We also reject jingles with double meaning.)

Under the amended resolution, Garcia said the Comelec will now consider child abuse, discrimination, and incitement as election offenses. Other acts included immoral doctrines, obscene publications, exhibitions and indecent shows as well as racial discrimination. 

“Ito ay warning sa mga makakabasa ng bago namin resolution dahil mas ginawa naming specific. Mas dinefine namin ang ‘safe space’, mas dinefine namin kung ano ang other election offenses in relation to acts of discrimination,” said Garcia. 

(This is a warning that in our new resolution, we defined what constitutes a ‘safe space’ and the election offenses in relation to acts of discrimination.)

“Sana ito ay lesson sa iba pang kandidato dyan na iwasan. Tandaan niyo may social media ngayon, napapanood namin, napapanood nang lahat at di made-deny nang kahit sino,” he added.

(We hope this will serve as a lesson for candidates to refrain from committing the said acts. We monitor social media and can watch your campaigns.)

Over the weekend, Garcia said the Comelec will propose the creation of “safe spaces” on social media, even in voting precincts and canvassing areas, to help protect the voters ahead of the May 2025 midterm elections. This came following incidents in which certain candidates made lewd remarks during campaign sorties at the height of the election period. —RF, GMA Integrated News

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