Political aspirants have until Jan. 31 to register online accounts, websites - Comelec
By Dhel Nazario
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given political aspirants until Jan. 31 to register their online accounts with the Education and Information Department (EID).

This was stated under Resolution No. 10748, promulgated on Dec. 16 which explained the clarification of Section 9C (1) which stated the registration of accounts which includes official accounts, websites, vlogs, and or other social media pages of political parties/coalitions or candidates which are already verified upon registration and also those that will be verified subsequent to registration.
Comelec released Nov. 18, Resolution No. 10730 or the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act 9006 or the “Fair Elections Act” indicating instructions that should be followed during the campaign period amid the continued influence of social media.
Comelec said in the resolution that only verified accounts, websites, blogs, and/or social media pages may run electoral ads, and boost or promote electoral posts.
The Comelec stated in the resolution that each registered political party as well as candidate shall register with the Comelec under the Education and Information Department (EID) the website name and web address of all platform verified official accounts, websites, blogs and/or other social media pages of such political party or candidate within 30 days from the last day of the period for the filing of COC.
Websites completing the verification process after the said period and other social media accounts established after the said period must be registered with the Comelec-EID within five days from its verification or registration.
It also stated that any other website, blog, or social media page not registered but when taken as a whole, has for its primary purpose the endorsement of a candidate, whether or not directly maintained or administered by the candidate or their official campaign representatives, shall be considered additional official websites, blogs or social media pages of the said candidate. Only verified accounts, websites, blogs, and/or social media pages may run electoral ads, and boost or promote electoral posts, the resolution read.
Comelec added that microtargeting of electoral ads shall not be allowed provided that electoral ads can be targeted using only the following criteria: geographical location, except radius around a specific location; age; and gender; provided further that contextual targeting options may also be used in combination with the said criteria.