BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) intensified its fight against misinformation and disinformation to protect the integrity of the May 2025 midterm elections.
Task Force KKK (Katotohanan, Katapatan, at Katarungan) sa Halalan was created in 2024 to implement section 261 (z) (11) of the Omnibus Election Code prohibiting the propagation of disinformation and misinformation to endorse or campaign against a candidate, the Comelec, and the Philippine election system during the election period.
Apayao Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Mae Richelle Chaudhary said the task force is composed of lawyers from the Comelec central office with other lawyers of the Commission from the field. It is led by the Director IV of the Education and Information Department and Law Department.
“Sila ang tatanggap ng complaints against violation ng misinformation, disinformation. They will issue show cause order sa mga magva-violate,” said Chaudhary.
She also underlined the role of the media in the fight against fake news.
“We hope that the media can help us to monitor the online publications that would violate the provisions of the law on misinformation and disinformation.”
The Comelec issued Resolution No. 11064 for the guidelines on the use of social media, artificial intelligence, and internet technology for digital election campaigns, and the prohibition and punishment of its misuse for disinformation and misinformation in connection with the 2025 national and local elections.
Recently, the Commission has partnered with TikTok to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation and disinformation.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology also committed to aid the Comelec in countering fake news and disinformation that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
In 2024, the Comelec inked partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to assist in the regulation of the use of social media, artificial intelligence, and internet technology, and the prohibition and its misuse in digital election campaigning.
The NBI Cybercrime Division shall assist the poll body through the Task Force KKK sa Halalan, in monitoring, preventing, and investigation the said prohibited acts, and shall preserve the information necessary to investigate and prosecute those involved in the commission of the same.
The common penalty for all election offenses is not less than one year but not more than six years of imprisonment. Violation of election laws is also not subject to probation. (DEG-PIA CAR)
