Comelec expects election candidates’ endorsers are getting paid
Commission of Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia. (Photo from Facebook page of Comelec)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will now presume that the online influencers, content creators and celebrities who endorse election candidates or party-list organizations are getting paid.
The poll body’s presumption of payment entitlement is expressed in a resolution it adopted on Wednesday.
Comelec Resolution 11109, which had already been published in the Comelec website, states that “[a]ny person, including influencer, content creator, and celebrity, who shall openly support, endorse, and promote, or otherwise, the campaign of any candidate of party using print, broadcast media, social media or other electronic mass communication, is presumed a contractor and whose services is paid by such candidate or party benefitted therefrom.”
However, the resolution stated that the “presumption shall not apply to the relatives of the candidate within the second civil degree of affinity or consanguinity.”
Comelec Chairman George Garcia previously said the presumption somehow sets in place an “equal opportunity” for all candidates.
He notes that not every aspirant can hire well-known endorsers and benefit from the celebrities’ wide reach and popularity.
READ: Comelec to decide next week on paid endorsement in 2025 polls
“Bagamat ‘di sila pinagbabawalan, ang sa atin lang, e di fair,” Garcia said in an ambush interview on Tuesday.
(While we are not prohibiting them. What we are saying is this [payment] makes it fair.)
“Kung makakapag avail ng influencers, eh di magbayad ng tamang buwis o i-report sa Comelec kung magkano ang ginastos,” he said.
(If one can avail of the services of influencers, then just pay the right taxes and report to the Comelec how much was spent.)
However, the poll chief said that an exemption to the presumption of paid services is allowed if the influencer is a relative of the candidate.
“Hindi applicable ‘yan sa may family relationship up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity,” he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay in Malate, Manila.
(It is not applicable to family relationship of up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity.)
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Filing of SOCEs
Garcia on Thursday reiterated that the presumption of paid services is a bid to monitor that the candidates will file their statements of contribution and expenditures (SOCEs) properly.
According to the resolution, the candidates and authorized representatives of party-lists shall file their SOCEs within 30 days after the elections, whether they were elected or not, or withdraw their candidacy, unless the candidacy was done before the campaign period.
Candidates who fail to file their SOCEs will be liable for an administrative offense.
The resolution added that “[f]or the commission of a second or subsequent offense, a higher administrative fine shall be imposed against the offender and shall be subjected to perpetual disqualification to hold public office.”
Further, every person who will make any contributions to the candidates shall file with the Comelec a report under oath stating the amount they contributed, date of contribution, and name of recipient, not later than 30 days after the election day.
