ILOILO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued separate show cause orders against Vice Mayor Macario “Doc Mac” Nicer Napulan for alleged non-registration of his social media page and non-disclosure of animated videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in his campaign to regain the post as mayor of Miag-ao town in Iloilo province.
Napulan allegedly failed to comply with Comelec Resolution No. 11064 that covers registration of personal social media pages and disclosure of using AI-generated content to Comelec.
The Comelec’s Task Force KKK (Katotohanan, Katapatan, at Katarungan) asked Napulan to explain why a complaint should not be filed against him.
The personal Facebook account of Napulan shared AI animated videos from a page known as Miagao Watch.
Napulan deleted the posts he shared.
The videos negatively depicted a man appearing to be incumbent Mayor Richard Garin, his opponent.
Animated videos also showed two men who appeared to be Napulan and Garin engaging in boxing and kickboxing matches.
Another animated video featured man who appears to be Garin slapping another man on the face.
Comelec Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, chairman of Task Force KKK, said in the show-cause order dated April 30 that Comelec can request Facebook to remove, take down, or block the content online if Napulan fails to comply with the written explanation.
Napulan, a doctor, was Garin’s running-mate in the 2022 elections.
He is campaigning as a tumandok (native) against Garin who is originally from neighboring Guimbal town.