COMELEC asked to sanction ex-Bataan mayor

THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) was asked to sanction the former mayor of Limay, Bataan, who is seeking reelection for allegedly using a fake social media account not registered with the poll body in violation of a COMELEC resolution regulating the use of social media during the midterm polls and the Fair Elections Act (RA 9006).

In a 15-pages verified complaint filed before the COMELEC main office in Manila last April 22, accused of election offense is former mayor, Lilvil ‘Ver’ Roque who tried to return to office in 2022 under the PDP-Laban but was overwhelmed with over 9,000 votes by Mayor David Nelson.

The complaint, filed by Raymond dela Fuente, a resident and voter from Limay, alleged that as far back as October, 6 months before the start of the campaign period last March 28, Roque has been using Facebook page, ‘Bagong VERsyon’ in promoting his candidacy.

It added that despite this, Roque decided not to register the account with the COMELEC as mandated under Resolution 11064 but instead registered the FB account, ‘Mayor Ver Roque.’

Even after the registration of all socmed accounts as mandated by the COMELEC lapsed last December 13, 2024, Roque still decided not to register the Bagong VERsyon account leading to its being classified as a ‘fake account’ that he kept on using as a propaganda tool to elicit votes from Limay residents.

The complaint further alleged that an analysis would show that both the bogus account and the registered account of Roque have been sharing contents, leading to the conclusion that Roque was not only aware of, but appears to be in approval, of their operation.

Dela Fuente averred that Roque’s action smacks of impunity in clear defiance of the COMELEC’s order for the registration of all social media accounts used by candidates for the midterm polls.

For the former mayor’s alleged defiance, dela Fuente said it is incumbent upon the COMELEC to sanction Roque with an election offense.

Under Resolution 11064, the COMELEC has the power to classify any account as ‘fake’ and order its removal and conduct a ‘motu propio’ investigation on any verified complaint.

The offender can be slapped with appropriate penalty under RA 9006 in relation to BP 881 or the Omnibus Election Code.

The penalty can include removing the offender’s right to vote or to be voted upon, among others.