The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) enjoined candidates and campaign managers to responsibly adopt digital innovation in their campaigns.
“Prioritize the truth, transparency and practice ethical campaigning,”Commissioner Rey Bulay emphasized during the National Election Game Changer Summit held in November 2024 at the Marquis Events Place in BGC, Taguig City.
“Our electorate deservers no less. Let us prioritize security both online and offline. Protect personal data, guard against hacking, and secure communication channels to ensure the safety of candidates, teams and thne democratic proces,” he added.
Bulay highlighted that the rise of technologies like social media and artificial intelligence poses new challenges for the commission.
According to him, while these tools are powerful, they can be weaponized to spread misinformation, sway public opinion, and undermine the credibility of elections.
“Napakadali pong mag-confuse ng voters sa social media. Yun lamang pong maliin kung saan ang polling place may problema na tayo. Fostering mistrust and dangerous or irreversible errors mean voter disenfranchisement. The antidote is very simple: accurate information for a well-informed electorate. But how do you do it? They should be able to discern fact from fiction,” he explained.
Bulay underscored the imporance of fact-checking as a cornerstone of modern election management, urging COMELEC, media organizations, and civil society to foster a culture of verification.
“We should be able to flag false content on social platforms and, more importantly, provide accessible, readily available credible sources of information,” he urged.
The commissioner reminded the public that COMELEC’s role is not to predict election outcomes but to ensure every vote is cast freely and that voters have access to the truth.
“As we stand on the edge of new era in Philippine elections, I ask each one of you to committ to this vision, a vision where technology is used for good. Disinformation is thwarted and the voice of the people is protected and amplified.
“With COMELEC leading the way, let us please work togethjer to ensure that the 2025 elections will be remembered for the victory of the voters, of the candidates, of the truth, of transparency and democracy.”
