THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday ordered the suspension of its agreement with the online news website Rappler Inc.
“Given the allegations against Rappler and the subsequent filing of the petition with the Supreme Court, it is judicious for the Commission to hold in abeyance the implementation of the provisions of the MOA (memorandum of agreement) until the issues are settled and/or decision of the court is rendered,” said Comelec Acting Chair Socorro Inting a day after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court to stop the agreement’s implementation.
“All actions in connection with the MOA shall be deferred, including coordination between the Commission and Rappler on matters of the MOA,” she added.
Inting said the suspension is anchored on the advisory sent by the OSG to the Commission in a letter dated February 28.
In the OSG advisory, it asked the Comelec to unilaterally rescind the MOA with Rappler because of undue delegation to Rappler of the Comelec’s authority; its alleged violation of the Constitution and the laws; its alleged record of reporting false and grossly biased information; and its supposed violation of the State policy to be fully independent from foreign interference and secure integrity of elections.
Inting also cited as reason for suspending the pact the OSG’s petition before the Supreme Court.
The Comelec entered into a MOA with Rappler last month regarding voter engagement and fighting disinformation in connection with the May 9 polls.
