Comelec wants candidates to report fees for tapped celebrities, influencers | ABS-CBN
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Comelec wants candidates to report fees for tapped celebrities, influencers
Comelec wants candidates to report fees for tapped celebrities, influencers
Comelec Chair George Garcia shows a sample of the electronic ballot during the Local Source Code Review of the Automated Election Systems (AES) at the Circuit Corporation One building in Makati city on October 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
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MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it is eyeing to include talent fees of celebrities and influencers in the campaign expenditures of candidates in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it is eyeing to include talent fees of celebrities and influencers in the campaign expenditures of candidates in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
Under the proposed policy, candidates will be required to declare in their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) how much they paid any endorser, including those whose services were donated by family, friends or supporters, Comelec Chairman George Garcia told reporters.
Under the proposed policy, candidates will be required to declare in their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) how much they paid any endorser, including those whose services were donated by family, friends or supporters, Comelec Chairman George Garcia told reporters.
“Wag sana sabihin ng ibang masasagasaan na napaka istrikto naman ng Comelec kasi ‘yun ang purpose namin: to ensure equal opportunity,” he said.
“Wag sana sabihin ng ibang masasagasaan na napaka istrikto naman ng Comelec kasi ‘yun ang purpose namin: to ensure equal opportunity,” he said.
“Kung mag-aavail kayo ng influencers, magbayad kayo ng tamang buwis… Tingnan natin kung compliant pa ba sa P3 o P5 na required ng ating batas?” he said.
“Kung mag-aavail kayo ng influencers, magbayad kayo ng tamang buwis… Tingnan natin kung compliant pa ba sa P3 o P5 na required ng ating batas?” he said.
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“Kung donation yun ng isang celebrity, kailangan may equivalent 'yun. Kapag ikaw ay nag contribute, papipirmahin ka ng form, magkano, et cetera… Pero dapat ilagay ang pangalan mo sa SOCE,” he added.
“Kung donation yun ng isang celebrity, kailangan may equivalent 'yun. Kapag ikaw ay nag contribute, papipirmahin ka ng form, magkano, et cetera… Pero dapat ilagay ang pangalan mo sa SOCE,” he added.
The Comelec will automatically presume that all celebrities and influencers who endorsed a candidate received some form of payment, Garcia said.
The Comelec will automatically presume that all celebrities and influencers who endorsed a candidate received some form of payment, Garcia said.
“It’s up to you to defend yourself… Kung 'yan ay iko-consider namin as valid defense, nasa amin 'yun,” he said.
“It’s up to you to defend yourself… Kung 'yan ay iko-consider namin as valid defense, nasa amin 'yun,” he said.
The Comelec expects to finalize the policy before the start of the official campaign period on February 11, Garcia said, noting that all SOCEs would be eventually published on the Comelec’s website.
The Comelec expects to finalize the policy before the start of the official campaign period on February 11, Garcia said, noting that all SOCEs would be eventually published on the Comelec’s website.
“Dapat malaman ng sambayanan, sino ang mag-donate, sino ang nagbigay… saan kinuha ang pera na pang gastos,” he said.
“Dapat malaman ng sambayanan, sino ang mag-donate, sino ang nagbigay… saan kinuha ang pera na pang gastos,” he said.
“Nararapat lang yan dahil may nagrereport ng tama, may nagre-report ng marami na tayong dinisqualify dahil sa maling pagrereport ng SOCE,” he said.
“Nararapat lang yan dahil may nagrereport ng tama, may nagre-report ng marami na tayong dinisqualify dahil sa maling pagrereport ng SOCE,” he said.
“Ang radyo, TV, nagrereport kung magkano ang kinikita nila… Bakit kapag social media, wala kaming regulasyon? Covered din sila ng Fair Elections Act,” he said.
“Ang radyo, TV, nagrereport kung magkano ang kinikita nila… Bakit kapag social media, wala kaming regulasyon? Covered din sila ng Fair Elections Act,” he said.
Two Comelec commissioners are expected to retire before the May 2025 elections, but Garcia — a former election lawyer — said that they could still sign resolutions before their official retirement day.
Two Comelec commissioners are expected to retire before the May 2025 elections, but Garcia — a former election lawyer — said that they could still sign resolutions before their official retirement day.
For more news and features on Philippine elections, visit the ABS-CBN News' Halalan 2025 page.
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