THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said it is not suspending the implementation of “Operation Baklas” despite complaints from political teams and private citizens over the dismantling of campaign materials in private properties.
But Elections spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body will review its election guidelines as requested by various stakeholders.
“Baklas is not being suspended,” said Jimenez in response to the letter of poll lawyer Romulo Macalintal.
“Inputs like that from various sources (are) always part of the discussion even though we don’t necessarily refer to it specifically. All of these are within the knowledge and awareness of our commissioners when they discuss these things,” he added.
Jimenez said the Commission will come up with an implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the policies after concluding the review.
The statement comes after Macalintal formally asked the Comelec to temporarily suspend Operation Baklas in private properties amid questions over its legality and as Comelec field personnel come under fire for entering private properties sans the consent of owners.
Jimenez said that to address the complaints of private citizens, election personnel will begin requiring “written consent” from private property owners who will be found with unlawful campaign materials.
“We will require written consent form so that we can have proof that we have sought their permission,” said Jimenez, adding that property owners who will not give their written permission may legal liabilities.
“If the property owner refuses to give consent, then a case is possible. In the meantime, the poster stays up,” said Jimenez.
Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay sought to defend the existing policy on unlawful campaign materials.
He said it is puzzling why it is only now that people are questioning what has been implemented in previous elections.
“It has been there for 21 years. Don’t blame the commissioners that drafted the rules as they only lifted it from the Fair Elections Act, which was passed in 2001,” he said.
“It has worked through nine national and local elections. There has been no complaints, unlike now,” added Bulay.
Amid the threat of disinformation and fake news attending the next poll exercise, the Comelec and online news agency Rappler yesterday forged a partnership to combat misinformation, a move which was questioned by media men under the National Press Club (NPC).
In a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony held at the Comelec head office in Manila, the poll body and Rappler yesterday agreed to become partners in fighting fake news relative to the forthcoming May 9 polls.
“Our signatures in this agreement represent the partnership in the preparatory activities for the forthcoming polls,” said Comelec Acting Chair Socorro Inting.
“It likewise symbolizes our institution’s firm commitment to voter education so that the electorate will have an informed choice come May 9,” she added.
Under the partnership agreement, Rappler commits its resources to help the Comelec disseminate helpful information and engage the public both online and offline.
Rappler’s awareness building efforts would include providing engaging content, shareable infographics, and educational videos, while an online show, podcast, workshops and seminars are also in the pipeline.
Also, the MOA provides that once the Comelec’s Precinct Finder and Post Finder are activated, they will also be made available on Rappler’s website.
Hours after the MOA signing event, the NPC submitted a letter to Inting questioning the partnership with Rappler.
In the two-page letter, NPC president Paul Gutierrez said they believe that the Commission erred in partnering with Rappler given the latter’s “spotty record” and “gross bias” as a news agency.
“We are registering our protest because, just like most Filipinos and just like you, we too, would want to see and experience a clean, credible honest and transparent election the result of which may well decide the country’s future in the coming years. But your choice of Rappler, certainly, is a step in the wrong direction,” said Gutierrez.
“It is an established fact that Rappler has a spotty record when it comes to the dissemination of ‘truthful information’ considering its record of gross bias in its reportage that resulted to its current legal woes. We are sure that you are familiar with them by this time,” he added.
The NPC, however, admitted that pushing through with the partnership with Rappler is ultimately up to the Commission.
