Masbate bets issued show cause orders over alert system use
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued show cause orders, asking four candidates running for various offices in Masbate province to explain their alleged use of an emergency alert messaging system containing “political advertisements” or “election propaganda.”
The four individuals include Masbate gubernatorial candidate Ricardo Kho, vice gubernatorial candidate Fernando Talisic, Masbate City mayoral candidate Olga Kho, and Masbate 2nd District Rep. Elisa Kho, who is seeking to secure a congressional seat for the upcoming polls.
READ: Gov’t warns poll bets: Don’t use alert system to campaign
Based on the documents released by Comelec on Sunday, the circulating message contains the following details:
“Emergency Alert: Extreme
Vote!RICHARD KHO for Governor
Vote!FERNANDO ‘ANDOT’ TALISIC for Vice Governor
Vote!ELISA ‘OLGA’ KHO for 2nd District Representative
Vote! ARA OLGA KHO for City Mayor”
Citing Section 1(5), Article V of Comelec Resolution No. 11064, the commission said the creation and dissemination of fake news to propagate disinformation and misinformation to endorse or campaign against a candidate, a political party/coalition, and party-list organizations, among others “shall be considered as misuse and malicious use of social media, artificial intelligence technology, and internet technology.”
Comelec asserted that this may also constitute an election offense under Sec 261(z)(11) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code.
“By virtue of Section 2(3), Article V of Resolution No. 11064, you are hereby ordered to SHOW CAUSE in writing within a non-extendible period of five (5) days from receipt hereof, and to explain why a complaint for violation of these guidelines should not be filed against you,” the commission said in the letter.
“Otherwise, a request for the removal, takedown, or blocking of the said content or account shall be made to the technology platforms and/or the concerned law enforcement agency, without prejudice to any further legal action in accordance with applicable laws,” it added.
