Comelec asserts independence after Calida questions MOA with Rappler

Acting Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Socorro Inting on Friday asserted the poll body's independence after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) urged it to rescind its memorandum of agreement (MOA) with news website Rappler.

"With respect to Rappler, we received an advisory from the Solicitor General and we are still studying our options," Inting said at a press conference.

"I would like to emphasize, the Comelec is a constitutional body and an independent body."

Inting made the remark after Solicitor General Jose Calida urged the Comelec to revoke its MOA with Rappler on providing information related to the May 9 elections or face a court case.

Calida claimed that the MOA unlawfully gives Rappler, allegedly a foreign entity, access to confidential data on registered voters and the power to decide the election.

"The OSG, as its (Comelec's) statutory counsel, has urged the Comelec to rescind the MOA within five days or until March 4. Otherwise, the OSG, as People's lawyer, may have to file the necessary case in court to declare the nullity of MOA by March 7,” he said.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier maintained that Comelec's MOA with Rappler was no different from its undertakings with other media entities aimed at providing factual information to voters for the May 2022 polls.

"The purpose of the memorandum of agreement is to ensure that there exits a free flow of information from the Comelec to the news organizations. Again, this free flow of information is available to all networks," Jimenez said. —Richa Noriega/KBK, GMA News