Comelec: Negative campaigning OK, avoid defamation

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia stated that negative campaigning is allowed under the Omnibus Election Code but warned against defamation.

Garcia emphasized that while candidates can campaign for or against each other, they must respect their opponents' rights and avoid stating baseless accusations.

He noted that if negative campaigning leads to criminal acts like libel or cyberlibel, these cases are handled by the Department of Justice (DOJ) rather than the Comelec.

The chairman clarified that disqualification cases do not automatically remove a candidate's name from the ballot unless there is a final and executory decision by the Comelec En Banc and a restraining order from the Supreme Court.

Garcia stressed that negative campaigning should not cross legal boundaries, as candidates must adhere to existing laws such as those against defamation.

The law allows various activities like making speeches or publishing campaign materials for or against a candidate's election or defeat.