7 Pebrero, 2025 Biyernes
election campaign period, gun ban in effect
Love month in iskup
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
Congratulations 53 new brothers of Marked Men for Christ Philippines
PM for any hospital discharge problem
ABS 2025
‘Celebrities, influencers can endorse only relatives for free in 2025 polls’
By Nidz Godino
“They must declare amount, even if they claim it was free, because it still has equivalent value,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said celebrities and social media influencers may freely endorse family member or relative running in May 2025 midterm elections.
Garcia said regulation presuming celebrity and influencer endorsements as paid does not apply if they are endorsing relative up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Speaking at Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Garcia mentioned exemption is included in resolution that commission will release to regulate social media campaigns.
Under second civil degree of consanguinity, covered relatives include parents, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. Meanwhile, parents-in-law, siblings-in-law, grandparents-in-law and grandchildren-in-law fall under second civil degree of affinity.
However, Garcia stressed that candidates must report in their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) any payments made for endorsements of celebrities and influencers not covered by exemption.
Failure to report such expenses in SOCE is tantamount to election offense and could be grounds for disqualification.
Politicians, especially those who belong to same political party, are also presumed to be endorsing another candidate for free.
Candidates are required by law to include in their SOCE individuals or firms they have contracted for campaigning.
Failure to file their SOCEs may result in administrative offenses, with fines ranging from P1,000 to P30,000, as determined by Comelec, excluding barangay-level aspirants.
For winning candidates or political parties, failure to comply may also result in withholding of their assumption of office.
Meanwhile, to hasten verification of official ballots for 2025 polls, Garcia said Quezon City local government has granted exclusive and free use of Amoranto Stadium for ballot verification.
“We were entrusted with Amoranto Stadium because there is no more space at National Printing Office due to small size of their building,” Garcia said.
“In order to conduct additional verification, we will need more ample space,” he added.
ISKUP! 