Negative campaigning, though allowed should be used responsibly — Comelec spokesperson

By Leslie Aquino

Although negative campaigning is allowed by campaign rules and regulations, a poll official warned against its irresponsible use.

COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN)

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez explained that negative campaigning cannot be used as an excuse for libelous behavior.

“If you maliciously air libelous comments against them, you cannot be protected by the fact that negative campaigning is allowed,” he said in a press briefing Monday.

“You cannot excuse libelous behavior and say you are just engaging in negative campaigning, which is allowed. These are two different things,” added Jimenez.

As to the narco-list that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is planning to release, Jimenez said it will not have an effect on the status of the candidates.

“If there’s a candidate on the narco list, then that only reflects, at best, an allegation that they are involved in the narcotics trade. But it will really not affect the qualifications of the candidates because the narcolist is not the final conviction,” he said.

Jimenez added: Since it is not a final conviction, it cannot be disqualifying.

Meanwhile, the poll official also believes that it is already unlikely for them to organize a debate between the senatorial candidates of the administration’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) and the opposition’s Otso Diretso.

Jimenez cited the nearness of the elections as reason for this.

“To be honest, organizing a debate is not an overnight job,” he said.

“Not to preempt the commission en banc, but we only have less than two months to go. So it’s unlikely,” added Jimenez.

“As far as the time element is concerned, it’s doubtful because we are two months away from the elections,” he said.

The opposition slate earlier submitted a letter to the poll body asking the latter to facilitate a debate between them and Hugpong bets.