MANILA — Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia said the commission cannot simply ban negative campaigning in the midterm polls.

According to Garcia, negative campaigning is permitted under the Omnibus Election Code.

Garcia admitted the said law may not be applicable to the current political landscape amidst the latest technology using social media.

“Yung kasing Omnibus Election Code, pinapayagan ang negative campaigning. Of course nung mga panahong ‘yon hindi pa kasi sophisticated yung campaigning negatively so ngayon meron na tayong pumasok na mga cases ng libel at tsaka cyber libel and therefore kung gagawin yung mismong negative campaigning sa pamamagitan ng social media so puwedeng pumasok ang cyberlibel na yan and therefore hindi kami ang in-charge dun kundi sa DOJ yun, sa ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan,” he explained.

Garcia said the commission has no power to go after supporters of candidates with malicious statements or public pronouncements.

“Sa kasalukuyan, kung ang mga magko-commit ng negative campaigning ay mga supporter ng mga kandidato wala rin pong jurisdiction ang Comelec. Kung sakali, na magkakaroon ng negative campaigning ang mga kandidato - yan puwede po kaming magkaroon ng jurisdiction sa kanilang mga sasabihin at sa kanilang gagawin,” according to Garcia.

“Subalit, kung bordering on something criminal, dalawa po ang puwede either disqualification ng kandidato, and at the same time criminal case laban sa kandidato na involved. Pero yung iba-ban natin yung negative campaigning per se, hindi po namin magagawa yun because its provided for by the Omnibus Election Code,” he added.

In the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s remark in a political rally recently where he suggested killing senators to create vacancies for his bets, Garcia said the former president as an ordinary citizen or just a mere supporter, will be governed by other existing law and not within the jurisdiction of the commisison.

“Bilang isang supporter hindi naman po siya ( Duterte ) kandidato, kahit yung ibang opisyal din ng pamahalaan govern na po sila ng ibang rules for example ikaw nagkaroon ng ganon klaseng joke, ikaw ay nakaupo papasok na yung R.A 6715 yung tinatawag na Ethical standard for government officials and employees. Sa mga katulad naman ng ibang supporter - maari po na meron national security implicaition or whatever, ibang ahensiya po talaga ng pamahalaan sa part po talaga ng Comelec, we will always respect the freedom of expression ng lahat ng mga supporter, lahat ng sumusuporta sa isang partido o kandidato politikal,” Garcia explained.

Garcia however said there is an exception to the rule on freedom of expression and speech guaranteed by the constitution.

“Tatandaan po natin, there is always a very thin line between a constitutional guarantee of the freedom of expression and speech and certain limitations to it. Siyempre, general rule yan ay binibigay natin na karapatan ng bawat isa. Exception, may mga nilatag na exception ang Korte Suprema natin,” Garcia said.