The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the implementation of its agreement with Rappler for voter information after Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to void the deal.
In a memorandum addressed to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, acting Comelec chairperson Socorro Inting said it was “judicious for the Commission to hold in abeyance the implementation of the provisions of the MOA (memorandum of agreement) until the issues are settled and/or a decision of the court is rendered.”
“All actions in connection with the MOA shall be deferred including coordination between the Commission and Rappler on matters of the MOA,” Inting said.
Under the MOA, Rappler will help Comelec in its voter information campaign by holding election-related shows, podcasts, workshops, seminars, having a precinct finder and a fact-checking site.
Calida had asked Comelec to revoke the deal with Rappler for allegedly violating the Constitution and giving the website “undue delegation” of the poll body’s authority with regard to the upcoming elections.
The media website founded by Maria Ressa is also accused of violating the State policy to “be fully independent (from foreign interference)” and supposedly having “a record of reporting false and grossly biased information.”
source: politics. com.ph
