The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) urged the public on Sunday to report any irregularities that could disrupt the peaceful and orderly conduct of the inaugural parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia emphasized the public’s role in documenting incidents using personal devices to assist the electoral body and law enforcement authorities.
“’Yan ang role nating lahat. Kailangan makapag-report tayo, kailangan handa ang mga camera (para sa) ‘yung mga pangyayari at maiparating sa kinauukulan,” Garcia said during a radio interview.
Garcia stated that upon receiving reports of election irregularities, COMELEC will initiate formal investigations and issue show-cause orders to implicated individuals. The region’s inaugural parliamentary polls are set for Monday, September 14.
To address online disinformation, Garcia noted that COMELEC’s threat monitoring center is collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and digital platforms to take down false or deceptive content.
However, he pointed out legal limitations regarding digital media oversight.
“Ang isang problema natin ay wala tayong batas na nagre-regulate sa social media,” Garcia stated.
“Sana during the campaign period ay mabigyan ng kapangyarihan si COMELEC para mabigyan natin ng tamang regulasyon para sa ikabubuti ng ating halalan,” he added.