BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Campaign strategies play a significant role in a candidate’s fate, aside from destiny.
With the rising of technology as a tool for campaigns, social media has already started to become an avenue for individuals to spread false or derogatory messages to destroy certain aspirants or political parties.
With aspirants for positions in the May 2025 national and local elections already filing their certificates of candidacy(COC), the Commission on Election(COMELEC) reminds the public to refrain from using technology as means of negative campaigning.
COMELEC Baguio City Election Officer lawyer John Paul Martin said during the opening of filing last October 1 that this area is now part of the oath of candidates. He noted that the oath is a step to start a clean social media campaign in the city.
“It’s good na meron tayong panata para at least man lang istart natin sa siyudad ng Baguio ang clean social media campaign” he said.
He shared that COMELEC will include social media campaigning as a focus during the campaign period.
“Ang pinakabagong nilalaman niyan is regarding social media campaigning, not to use AI-generated tools to promote misinformation, disinformation and mal information,” he said.
He shared that COMELEC partnered with Meta AI to take down trolls and those who violate social standards in social media.
“Social media is an avenue, sometimes for your advocacy, pero pwede rin yang breeding ground for misinformation at yun ang prine-prevent natin during campaign, especially in calling out trolls, and COMELEC is prepared to strike down these trolls. Meron tayong committee to strike down yung mga malicious at voter’s suppression posts that would violate the community’s standards of the social media platforms, in partnership with Meta AI,” Martin shared.
Martin stressed that running for public office is not a joke, and thus needs preparation. He further reminds aspirants to ensure submission of complete documents to avoid problems.
“Hindi po biro ang tumakbo sa public office, pinag-iisipan po yan, hindi po dapat spur of the moment, kailangan preparado po tayo sa requirements bago tayo magdecide to file certificate of candidacy. Paalala lang po especially doon sa magfifile on the last day on October 8, kailangan kumpleto na ang inyong Certificate of Candidacy bago pa mandin kayo pumunta sa ating filing venue para maiwasan ang anumang aberya,” he said.
There are three vital steps in filing the COC, namely; verification of documents, actual receiving of the COC, and capped with the oath to ensure orderly elections. (JDP/CVBT-PIA CAR)
