MANILA —  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) believes the impending impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte will not affect the scheduled National and Local Elections this May.  

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the midterm elections will push through without hitches. 

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 “As far as the Comelec is concerned, it will not affect our preparations, it will not affect the conduct of the election,” he said.

 In case a running senator becomes a member or part of the impeachment trial as a judge, Garcia explained his or her exposure to media while conducting the hearing will not be added to the allowed time limit for a candidate.  

“Basta po ang isang personalidad kahit maaring siya ay nakaupo o ngayon ay tumatakbo at siya ay naging parte ng balita —  dahil walang magagawa siya ang balita, 'yan po ay hindi kasama sa tinatawag na time allocation at the same time hindi rin kasama dun sa kinakailangang bayad o equivalent na amount para doon sa time na nilabas niya,” he stated.

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 The Comelec chief emphasized the difference between news and a political advertisement. 

 “So again, magkaiba po yung balita at magkaiba yung pagpo-promote ng kanyang sarili, — kung talagang siya ay nagkataon lamang na parte ng balita, 'yan po ay hindi dapat i-take against him,“ according to Garcia. 

STRICTER RULES ON TAPPING CELEBRITIES, INFLUENCERS

Meanwhile, Garcia said the commission will be stricter in monitoring candidates with celebrity endorsers and influencers. 

 He said the commission en banc on Wednesday approved guidelines regarding the Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCE).  

“Para sa darating na halalan, yung mga kandidato na gumagamit ng mga celebrities —  kahit pa sabihin nila na libre yan, walang bayad, binigay ng free ng mga influencers o celebrities…magkakaroon kami ng presumption kung magkano yan, nasa kanila 'yan kung magde-declara sila ng tama o hindi pero ang purpose namin dito, kailangan may proper accountability sa paggamit ng ganyan kasi magiging unfair sa mga hindi gumagamit ng mga celebrity o influencer,” Garcia said.

 “Kapag ang isang kandidato gumamit ng isang well-known celebrity and lagi nilang contention satin —  libre ang celebrity sapagkat kaibigan, or kaya naman supporter…ngayon po siyempre kumita na po yung mga ganong klaseng depensa. Ngayon po nilagay na natin kahit magsabi sila na walang bayad, i-presume namin na may bayad yan—  kaya hahanapin namin yung mismong binayad dapat nung kandidato sa influencer na yan o sa top celebrity na yan,” he explained.  

Garcia however said that this rule will not be applicable to the relatives of the candidate up to the 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity.

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“Ito po’y hindi applicable sa magkamag-anak sa second degree of consanguinity or affinity hanggang sa maglolo man lang, mag-ama, mag-ina hindi po ito kasama. Para din sa BIR kung talaga bang ang isang celebrity ay nabayaran or hindi,” he said.