The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, Feb. 28, filed charges against Jerryll Respicio, a vice mayoralty candidate in Isabela province's Reina Mercedes town, for allegedly violating the cybercrime law.

This, after he claimed on social media that he can manipulate the electoral process.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body's Task Force "KKK" initiated the move. He said it "wanted to prove that you could just utter words that could damage the credibility not only of the institution but also of the election process".

"Hindi po pe-pwede dito na lakasan, tapang-tapangan, tapos 'di mo haharapin 'yung consequence ng 'yong ginagawa​ (You cannot pretend to be brave in making claims, then suddenly you will not face the consequence)," Garcia said in an interview after the poll body filed the complaint at the Manila Prosecutor's Office.

Respicio is the first person charged by Task Force KKK—which stands for Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (Truth, Honesty and Justice)—in relation with violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The task force was formed to fight misinformation and disinformation using modern technology, such as artificial intelligence.

According to Garcia, the task force will also file a disqualification case against Respicio. 

It will also seek the candidate's disbarment from being a lawyer through the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) as well as the removal of his certified public accountant (CPA) license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

"Hindi po papayag ang Comelec [na kumalat ang misinformation] (Comelec will not allow misinformation to spread)," Garcia said.

The poll chair warned that the body would do the same against those who will spread election-related misinformation not only about Comelec but also about candidates and other individuals.

"Lahat ng mag-gaganito pa, we always have the option to choose kung saan mag fa-file pa​ (We always have the option to chose where to file charges against those who will do the same)," he said when asked why Comelec filed the charges in Manila despite the respondent being a resident of Isabela province.

​Meanwhile, Garcia maintained the integrity of the upcoming May 12 elections.

He denied Respicio's claim that votes could be influenced or manipulated, as he maintained that the system was "hack-free".

"Ang ating sistema ay stand alone. Kaya ring i-counter check [kung tama ang vote counts] (Our system is stand alone. We can also counter check if the vote counts are right)," he added.