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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Rappler as fact checker, precinct finder? Marcos camp finds it 'very disturbing'

Rappler as fact checker, precinct finder? Marcos camp finds it 'very disturbing'

Published Feb 28, 2022 02:19 pm

The camp of aspiring president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday, Feb. 28 expressed concern over the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) partnership with online news site Rappler regarding the upcoming May polls, calling it "very disturbing".

Marcos Jr.'s campaign manager, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said they are seeking a clarification from the poll body via letter regarding its signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the news website to allow it to fact check the statements of political candidates as well as create a precinct finder for the voters.

"Ang Rappler daw ay parang pinapayagan ng Comelec na sya ay gumawa ng fact checker, inatasan. At pangalawa, nakalagay rin dito (Rappler has been reportedly allowed by Comelec to become a fact checker. Also, as stated)...Comelec will also allow Rappler to embed its online precinct finder once it has become available. So dalawang issue (So there are two issues)," Abalos said.

Abalos did not elaborate how fact checking was a concern, but he jumped on Rappler as being "owned by foreigners" by citing decisions handed down by the Court of Appeals (CA) and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

"Alam niyo ho sa ating Pilipino, lalo na sa Constitution, sagrado ang eleksyon. At klaro dyan, dapat walang mangialam na dayuhan dito (For us Filipinos and for the Constitution, elections are sacred. It's clear there that no foreigner should intervene)," he said.

The Marcos camp is also concerned about allowing the news website to become a precinct finder, which in turn allows Rappler to have access to the poll body's database.

"May issue tayo rito sa (We have here an issue on) Right of Privacy Law. That could be a violation," Abalos told reporters in an event in Quezon City.

"These are issues na tingin ko naman ay valid na sanay maklaro muna (that I think are valid and need to be clarified)," he said. "We’re just waiting because for us, this is very disturbing."

Rappler has yet to respond to Abalos's comments.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos disturbing fact checker Comelec 22822 precinct finder Benhur Abalos
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