MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) clarified on Monday (17 Feb 2025) that there is no violation of the law when candidates or their supporters criticize rival candidates during election campaigns.

In an interview, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia explained, “The Omnibus Election Code itself permits negative campaigning.”

Section 79 of the Code defines “election campaign” or “partisan political activity” as actions aimed at promoting or defeating a specific candidate. This includes speeches, announcements, interviews, and commentaries made either in support or opposition to any candidate.

However, Garcia also emphasized that negative campaigning must not cross the line into other illegal activities, such as libel or cyberlibel, which could lead to separate legal actions.

In a related development, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed complaints against former President Rodrigo Duterte for inciting sedition and making unlawful statements.

Duterte allegedly suggested that killing senators would facilitate the election of his preferred candidates during a PDP-Laban rally in San Juan City on February 13.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna reminded city government employees to remain apolitical during the election season.

She urged regular employees, particularly those in permanent positions, to refrain from participating in political campaigns and to be cautious about expressing political support on social media, warning that doing so could jeopardize their jobs.

“I am fully aware that local government employees have personal political preferences, but they must always remember that campaigning is prohibited for city staff,” Lacuna said in a statement.

ia/mnm

By Celeste Tamayo

MANILA — The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas has no plans to replace Senator Imee Marcos in the administration’s senatorial slate, despite her statement about running as an independent candidate.

During a meet-and-greet with the media, Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, campaign manager for the admin slate, clarified that they will continue to campaign for the senator.

“Definitely no plans to replace Senator Imee. That’s 100 percent; she’s part of the Alyansa candidates,” Tiangco said.

He also mentioned that the senator did not indicate that she would be unable to attend the final campaign sortie of the slate.

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