Comelec to monitor candidates' spending on social media

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will monitor the candidates' spending in social media during the campaign period for the 2022 elections, an official said Friday.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. said social media — the use of which for campaigning is seen to increase amid the  COVID-19 pandemic — falls under "broadcast."

"Campaign ads are divided between print and broadcast which is TV and radio. Social media will be under broadcast. We will control in terms of expenses incurred in entering contracts with social media carriers," he said.

Kho said an uptick in social media campaigning is expected given that political rallies will be significantly reduced due to prohibition of mass gathering to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

"Sa campaign, we cannot really remove the political rallies. Nandiyan talaga 'yan sa ating history. Tradisyon na 'yan sa kampanya. But there will be a strict implementation of safety measures," he said.

(Political rallies will still be there. It is a longstanding tradition.)

Campaign ads of candidates, however, are only allowed limited airtime in radio and television brodcast. Campaign ads on print are also regulated based on size and placement in a newspaper or a billboard.

As of Friday, Kho said that there are at least 59 million registered voters for the 2022 polls.

Kho said the Comelec is still working on increasing such number by allowing registrants to download the forms ahead of physical registration to prevent crowding, as well as setting up satellite offices to cater to new registrants.

Kho, meanwhile, called on Comelec employees to get vaccinated when they get the chance.

"We really need to be vaccinated because we meet people everyday. We really need to be protected," Kho said. —KBK, GMA News