Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3691

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1* District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under our election laws, it is provided that any person who, for the purpose of disrupting
or obstructing the election process or causing confusion among the voters, propagates false
and alarming reports or information or transmits or circulates false orders, directives or
messages regarding any matter relating to the printing of official ballots, the postponement
of the election, the transfer of polling place or the general conduct of the election, shall be
guilty of an election offense. [Section 261 (z) (11) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC)]

Further, the Fair Elections Act allows election propaganda whether on television, cable
television, radio, newspapers or any other medium, subject to the limitation on authorized
expenses of candidates and political parties, observance of truth in advertising, and subject
to the supervision and regulation by the Commission [Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9006]

‘The emergence and increasing sophistication of social media, the internet and artificial
intelligence have presented huge challenges to our lawmakers in coping with the dangers
of fast-evolving modem technology, including its application to our democratic or electoral
processes.

In relation to the 2022 National and Local Elections, the COMELEC promulgated
Resolution No. 10730, as amended, which classified social media posts and paid ads on the
internet as lawful election propaganda, and provided for the requirements and/or limitations
on the use of election propaganda through internet, mobile and social media. Similarly, in
connection with the 2025 National and Local Elections, the COMELEC promulgated
Resolution No. 11064, which provided guidelines on the use of social media, artificial
intelligence and internet technology, for digital election campaign, including the
prohibition and punishment of their misuse for disinformation, and misinformation.

In this light, this bill, which seeks to regulate the use of the internet and the social media as
a lawful election propaganda, aims to empower the COMELEC in the monitoring of
partisan political activities; help the authorities prove, prosecute and enforce the
"Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012" (Republic Act No. 10175); enable the public to fight
the proliferation of online trolls during the election season; and properly compute campaign
expenses.

In the 19th Congress, a similar measure — Substitute Bill No. 11412 — was filed by
Representative Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D. L. Tan, et al. The instant measure, however,


takes due consideration of COMELEC Resolution No. 11064, dated September 17, 2024,
including the amendatory Resolution No. 11064-S, dated November 13, 2024, which are
the latest regulatory issuances on the subject matter.

In view of its timeliness and continuing relevance in governing succeeding elections, the
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Wrens

FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._3691

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1* District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE FAIR USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE AND INTERNET TECHNOLOGY FOR THE HOLDING OF
FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Social Media, Artificial Intelligence
and Internet Technology Regulation for Fair Elections Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall, during the election period, supervise and regulate
the privileges granted under franchises or permits for the operation of the internet and social media
communication or information, as well as the use of artificial intelligence, and provide for their
prohibition and punishment in case of misuse, to guarantee equal opportunity for public service,
including access to internet and social media time and space; the equitable right to reply, for public
information campaigns and fora among candidates; and assure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and
credible elections

‘The State shall ensure that candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of online
harassment and discrimination.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms, - As used in this Act:

(a) Artificial Intelligence Technology refers to computer systems or machines that simulate
human intelligence processes with focus on leaning, reasoning, problem solving,
perception, use of language, and image manipulation influencing real or virtual
environments;

(b) Astroturfing refers to a practice designed to mask the source of a message so that it appears
as though it has broad support from grassroots participants, rather than originating from a
small group or organization.

(©) Blog and collective blog refer to websites on which an individual or group of users,
respectively, record news, opinions, and information, in varying degrees of regularity. A
"micro-blog" refers to a blogging format which allows users to exchange small elements of
content - referred to variously as posts, entries or status updates - such as short sentences,
individual images, or links to video material uploaded to the internet;


(d) Bots (abbreviation for robot/s) refers to a software program or computer system designed
to perform automated, repetitive, pre-defined tasks on the internet often used on social
media to simulate or imitate human user behavior.

(©) Candidate refers to any person seeking an elective public office, who has a certificate of
candidacy, and who has not died, withdrawn the certificate of candidacy, nor the certificate
of candidacy denied due course or cancelled, or has been otherwise disqualified before the
start of the campaign period for which the certificate of candidacy was filed: Provided,
That, unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall take effect only upon the
start of the aforesaid campaign period. It also refers to any registered national, regional, or
sectoral party, organization or coalition thereof that has filed a manifestation of intent to
participate under the party-list system, which has not withdrawn the said manifestation, or
which has not been disqualified before the start of the campaign period;

(®) Cheapfakes refer to forms of visual disinformation for which authentic images or videos
are re-contextualized to deliberately alter their meaning.

(g) Contractors and business firms refer to persons, natural or juridical, or firms to whom the
electoral expenditure is paid or due for payment in accordance with Section 112 of the
Omnibus Election Code, including media entities, media outlets, internet and social media
platforms, advertising agencies, public relations firms and other intermediaries, event
organizers, talent endorsers and their managers, digital influencers, and printing press for
the purpose of entering into political advertisement contracts. "Social media associates”
refer to contractors whose primary duty is to promote the election or defeat of any candidate
through social media interactions and engagement;

(h) Coordinated inauthentic behavior refers to deliberate and coordinated actions carried out
by individuals, groups, or organizations to deceive or mislead the public by spreading false,
misleading, or manipulated information online, typically involving automated or semi-
automated means.

(W Deepfakes refer to digitally manipulated images, videos, or audio files created using
artificial intelligence to fabricate realistic representations of people, events, or statements
and falsely make it appear that an action, statement, or event transpired but did not occur
in reality.

(Disinformation refers to false information that is spread, or information that is based on
fact, but removed from its original context and is maliciously manipulated, and used in a
partisan political activity or digital election campaign, with the intent to mislead, harm, or
‘manipulate public opinion or voter behavior.

(k) Election campaign or partisan political activity refers to an act designed to promote the
election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office, and shall include

any of the following:

(Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of
persons for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign for
or against a candidate;

(ii) Creating on any social media platform, user groups or community pages, for the
purpose of conducting campaigns or related partisan political activity;

(iii) Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades or other
similar assemblies for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any
campaign or propaganda for or against a candidate;


(iv) Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for
or against the election of any candidate for public office;

(v) Publishing, displaying or distributing campaign literature or materials designed
to support or oppose the election of any candidate; or

(vi) Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against any
candidate.

(Electoral ads and electoral posts refer to advertisements and social media posts that have
for their primary purpose the promotion of the victory or defeat of a candidate;

(m) E-rally refers to a rally under Article X of the Omnibus Election Code which is conducted
for an online audiences;

(n) Fake news as used herein, is the colloquial, collective, and common term used by ordinary
Filipinos to refer to misinformation, malinformation, or disinformation deliberately
presented as legitimate news and disseminated through digital platforms, traditional media,
or other communication channels, with the intent to deceive, mislead, or manipulate public
opinion or voter behavior.

(0) Fake social media accounts are social media profiles created using false, misleading, or
inauthentic identities, or otherwise manipulated to deceive users into believing they are
interacting with genuine individuals or entities, often with the intent to mislead, manipulate,
or influence public opinion or voter behavior.

(p) False amplifiers refer to entities or mechanisms that artificially increase the visibility or
reach of digital partisan or political messages or narratives, typically through the use of
bots, fake accounts, or organized networks on social media platforms or other online
channels.

(q) Hyperactive users refer to inauthentic individuals who engage in disproportionately high
levels of activity on online platforms, including posting, sharing, or interacting with content
at a significantly higher rate than the average user, with the intent to distort or manipulate
online discourse or influence public perception using misinformation, or disinformation.

(0) Internet technology refers to hardware, software, protocols, and services that enable the
transmission, processing, and exchange of data and information over the web;

(s) Livestreaming refers the live broadcasting of an event over the internet;

(t) Microtargeting refers to a form of targeting online advertisements that uses recent
technological developments to analyze a person's online usage, to preferentially serve
advertisements and other information that specifically reflect that individual user's
preferences and personality;

(u) Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread in a partisan political
activity or digital election campaign, regardless of whether there is intent to mislead.

(v) Online campaigning refers to the use of the internet to distribute campaign propaganda.
This includes text-only posts on social media, pictures, audio clips, and video clips,
regardless of duration, and all combinations of such formats;


(w) Party refers to either a political party, whether national or sectoral party, or a coalition of
parties, and party-list organizations duly registered/accredited with the Commission on
Elections (COMELEC);

(x) Podcast refers to a radio program that is stored in a digital form that can be streamed live
and downloaded from the internet and stored and played on a computer or on a cell phone.

(y) Political advertisement or election propaganda refers to any matter broadcasted, published,
printed, displayed or exhibited, in any medium, which contains the name, image, logo,
brand, insignia, initials, and other symbol or graphic representation that is capable of being
associated with a candidate, and is exclusively intended to draw the attention of the public
or a segment thereof to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of the said
candidate or candidates to a public office. In broadcast media, political advertisements may
take the form of spots, appearances on television shows and radio programs, live or taped
announcements, teasers, and other forms of advertising messages or announcements used
by commercial advertisers. Political advertising includes endorsements, statements,
declarations, or information graphics, appearing on any internet website, social network,
blogging site, and micro-blogging site, which - when taken as a whole - has for its principal
object the endorsement of a candidate only, or which were posted in return for consideration
or are otherwise capable of pecuniary estimation;

(2 Social media refers to the collective of online communication channels, including websites
and applications, that enable users to create and share content, collaborate, and interact with
cach other. For purposes of this Act, video sharing sites which allow users to post comments
on individual entries shall be considered as falling within the broad category of "social
media”;

(aa) Social media account refers to a user's personalized access to a social networking site or
application, typically using a usemame and password combination." A social media
account allows a user to interact with other users on the same social networking site;

(bb) Social media associates refer to contractors whose primary duty is to promote the
election or defeat of any candidate through social media interactions and engagement; and

(cc) Social media post refers to any text, audio, or graphic content - or any combination thereof-
published online using a social media account.

(dd) Soft fakes refers to a type of media manipulation that involves subtle and often
imperceptible alterations to content, such as editing photos or videos, to influence
perceptions or opinions without the more evident distortions characteristic of deepfakes.

(ce) Watermark Technology refers to the method of embedding a visible or invisible mark,
identifier, or metadata in digital content to indicate authenticity, origin, or ownership for
purposes of ensuring the legitimacy of digital provenance.

SEC. 4. Use of the Internet and Social Media as Lawful Election Propaganda. - Election
propaganda on the internet and the social media are hereby allowed for all candidates seeking
national and local elective positions, subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of candidates
and parties, observation of truth in advertising, and to the supervision and regulation by the
COMELEC.

Social media posts, regardless of format, whether original or re-posted from some source, which
may either be incidental to the poster's advocacies of social issues or which may have, for its
primary purpose, the endorsement of a candidate only including paid advertisements in internet


subject

to the requirements set forth in Section 5 hereof and the Fair Elections Act shall also be

allowed.

SEC. 5. Requirements and/or Limitations on the Use of Election Propaganda through Internet and
Social Media, - The use of the internet and social media for purposes of election propaganda shall
be allowed subject to the following limitations:

@

(b)

©

@

©

(0)

Each registered political party/coalitions and candidate shall register with the Education
and Information Department (EID) of the COMELEC, the website name and web address
of all platform-verified official accounts, websites, podcasts, blogs and/or other social
media accounts and pages of such political party or candidate within thirty (30) days from
the last day of the period for the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy. Websites
completing the verification process after the said period and other social media accounts
established after the said period must be registered with the COMELEC-EID within five
(5) days from its verification or registration;

Any other website, blog, or social media page not registered above but which, when taken
as a whole, has for its primary purpose the endorsement of a candidate, whether or not
directly maintained or administered by the candidate or their official campaign
representatives, shall be considered additional official websites, blogs or social media
pages of the said candidate, for all regulatory purposes;

Only the candidates and their authorized representatives, as well as authorized
representatives of registered political parties! coalitions, and party-list organizations, may
submit their registration forms for their official social media accounts and pages, websites,
podcasts, blogs/vlogs, and other online and intemet-based campaign platforms.

Any person or entity other than a candidate or political party, who shall create, or manage
similar social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and other online
and internet-based campaign platforms primarily designed or used during the election
period to solicit votes and promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or
candidates, shall also submit the registration forms and comply with the requirements of
this guidelines.

Submission shall be made to the EID through the official online channels that will be
provided by the COMELEC.

In the event of failure to register, the concemed candidate, political party/ coalition, party-
list organization, and their respective social media campaign managers, shall be required
to explain why a complaint for violation of this Act should not be filed against them for
their failure to register their social media accounts, websites, digital and internet-based
‘campaign platforms in accordance with this Act. A request for the removal, takedown, or
blocking of the said content, social media or digital platforms, or accounts shall also be
made by the COMELEC to the technology platforms and providers, and/ or the concemed
law enforcement agency.

Only verified accounts, websites, blogs, and/or social media pages may run electoral ads,
and boost or promote electoral posts;

Microtargeting of electoral ads shall not be allowed: Provided, That electoral ads can be
targeted using only the following criteria: geographical location, except radius around a
specific location; age; and gender: Provided, further, That contextual targeting options may
also be used in combination with the above-mentioned criteria: Provided, finally, That
processing of personal data should comply with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173


or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, its Implementing Rules and Regulations and related
issuances of the National Privacy Commission;

(g) Alll electoral ads must show a disclosure that identifies who paid for the ad. Alll electoral
posts must show a disclosure that identifies it as a paid electoral ad, and discloses who paid
for the ad; and

(h) Information contained in online campaign propaganda shall be truthful and not misleading,
nor shall it tend to unjustifiably cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.

SEC. 6. Transparency and Disclosure Requirements on the Use of Artificial Intelligence
Technology in Election Propaganda and Campaign Materials. — The following transparency and
disclosure requirements shall be observed on the use of artificial intelligence technology in election
propaganda and campaign materials:

[i] All election propaganda and campaign materials of candidates and political parties, that
utilize artificial intelligence technology shall be required to disclose the fact of its use and
appropriate technology is employed to identify its authenticity and legitimate source.

[ii] Disclosures or disclaimers, which shall be clear, conspicuous, and not easily removed
or altered, must remain visible or audible for a sufficient duration both before and after the
‘campaign material is presented. The disclosure or disclaimer shall explicitly state that the
content has been manipulated using artificial intelligence, providing a detailed explanation
of the nature and extent of the manipulation. Additionally, it must include a statement
confirming that prior consent has been obtained from all individuals depicted in the Al-
manipulated election material. The said disclosure shall be contained in the same campaign
‘material and not in a separate file.

Any entity involved in distributing synthetic election-related media is also required to
ensure that the media contains the necessary disclosures and disclaimers as mandated.

[iii] Once an online and digital platform that hosts election-related content has been notified
by the COMELEC that media has been manipulated with artificial intelligence technology,
they shall be required to implement reasonable mechanisms that disclose the same. Such
disclosures must be clearly visible or audible to all audiences, ensuring that viewers or
listeners are adequately informed that the content has been altered in compliance with the
requirements of these rules.

[iv] If the COMELEC detects the use of artificial intelligence technology in any campaign
material disseminated or published through the social media accounts without any proper
disclosures or use of watermark technology as required by the COMELEC, the concemmed
candidate or party, and their respective social media campaign managers, shall be required
to explain why a complaint for violation of these rules should not be filed against them.

A request for the removal, takedown, or blocking of the said content, social media or digital
platforms, or accounts shall also be made by the COMELEC through the to the technology,
platforms and providers, and/or the concerned law enforcement agency.

SEC. 6. Regulation of Election Propaganda through Internet and Social Media. - In all instances,
the COMELEC shall supervise the use and employment of online facilities insofar as the placement
of political advertisements is concerned to ensure that candidates are given equal opportunity under
equal circumstances to make known their qualifications and their stand on public issues within the
limits set forth in the Omnibus Election Code, the Fair Election Act, and appropriate rules.


SEC. 7. Prohibited Acts Involving Misuse of Social Media, Artificial Intelligence and Internet
Technology in Digital Election Campaign. ~ The following acts, by any individual, shall be
considered misuse and malicious use of social media, artificial intelligence, and internet
technology, and may constitute an election offense under Section 261 (z) (11) of the OEC, if
‘committed for purposes of propagating disinformation and misinformation to endorse or campaign
against a candidate, a political party/ coalition, and party-list organizations, and for propagating
disinformation or misinformation against the Philippine election system, the COMELEC, and the
electoral processes in the Philippines during the election and campaign period:

(1) Use of "false amplifiers", such as fake accounts, bots, and astroturf groups filled with
fake users to propagate disinformation and misinformation in endorsing or
campaigning against a candidate, a political party/coalition, or party-list organizations,
or to propagate disinformation, and misinformation targeting the Philippine election
system, the COMELEC, and electoral processes during the election and campaign
period;

(2) Coordinated inauthentic behavior and utilization of hyperactive users for the
aforementioned purposes;

(3) Creation and dissemination of deepfakes, cheapfakes, and soft fakes for the
aforementioned purposes;

(4) Use of fake and unregistered social media accounts during the election and campaign
period for the same purposes;

(5) Creation and dissemination of fake news in furtherance of the aforementioned
purposes; and

(6 Use of content produced through AI technology but without compliance to the
transparency and disclosure requirements under these guidelines.

SEC. 8. Procedures Upon Detection of Prohibited Acts. - Once the prohibited misuse of social
media, artificial intelligence technology, and internet technology is reported to, detected, and
monitored by the COMELEC, through its own initiative and monitoring, or through the aid of
deputized law enforcement agencies and government instrumentalities, the following shall be
immediately undertaken:

(1) Gathering, documenting, recording, and preserving evidence by the COMELEC;

(2) Initial validation and investigation of reports, complaints, or detections of the prohibited
acts under these rules;

(3) Issuance of a show cause order to the alleged perpetrator, registered candidate, political
party/ coalition, party-list organization, and their respective social media campaign
managers;

(4) Motu proprio filing of an election offense complaint before the Law Department against
the Respondent;

(5) Submission of a request to the technology platform or internet service provider, or a
complaint to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Cybercrime
Investigation and Coordinating Center (CIC), the NBI Cybererime Division, the MTRCB,
and other relevant government agencies, with a demand for the takedown of the subject
content, and the erring social media account, website, or broadcast.


A request to the technology platform shall contain, among others:
(a) the specific provision of the Guidelines violated;
(b) specific internet addresses, Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) or cyber
addresses on the web, websites, or any contents to be blocked, removed, or taken
down;

(c) name and signature of the authorized COMELEC official sul
and

ing the request;

(d) such other facts as may be necessary to justify the request for takedown;

(6) Incase of a possible violation of other laws such as, but not limited to, Republic Act No.
10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012), Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act
of 2012), or the refusal of the concerned technology platform to comply with the demand
of the COMELEC to stop the continued disinformation or misinformation, a complaint
shall be referred to the relevant agencies for appropriate action; and

(7) The immediate debunking of fake news published and disseminated against the Philippine
election system, the COMELEC, or the electoral processes, shall also be undertaken
through publication by the EID in the official COMELEC website and social media
platforms.

SEC. 9. E-rallies and Livestreams Allowed. - Any political party or any candidate, individually or
jointly with other aspirants, may hold peaceful online political meetings, rallies or other similar
activities during the campaign period. Such online political meetings, rallies, and similar activities
are not covered by the limitations on broadcast advertising.

Live streaming on the candidates’ social media platforms shall be considered a form of e- rally,
subject to the following rules:

(a) All e-rallies shall include a disclosure that identifies it as a political meeting or rally and
providing the relevant date, time, and location information. For this purpose, a live stream
on the candidate's social media platforms shall be considered a political meeting or rally;

(b) Recordings of e-rallies shall be submitted to the COMELEC within 72 hours from the airing
of the same; and

(©) Candidates may receive in-platform gifts and game currency but shall not be allowed to
I si 8 y
give gifts to livestream audiences, nor to run promotions and campaigns that will award in-
platform gifts or game currency to platform users and livestream audiences.

SEC. 10. Prohibition on the Regulation of Legitimate Expressions by Private Individuals. - The
COMELEC is hereby mandated to regulate expressions of candidates and political parties but shall
not in any manner include legitimate expressions by private citizens

Public expressions or opinions or discussions of probable issues in an election or on attributes of or
criticisms against candidates shall not be construed as part of any election campaign or partisan
political activity

SEC. 11. Reporting Requirements to be Submitted by Contractors and Business Firms. - Certified

true copies of all contracts, reports and receipts, and other documents, accompanied by all its
digitization copies, shall be submitted by contractors and business firms to the COMELEC.

10


Every content creator of a post, owner or administrator of any website who airs or shows the
political advertisements, without the required data or having false information, in violation of this
Act shall be criminally liable with the candidate under Sec. 264 of the Omnibus Election Code and,
if applicable, suffer the penalties of suspension or revocation of franchise or permit in accordance
with law.

Within thirty (30) days after the conduct of the election, every person or firm to whom any payment
for clectoral expenditure has been made shall file a written report using the prescribed form which
shall contain the following information, and accompanied with the official receipts issued to the
person with whom the contractor or business firm had transacted:

i, The full name of the candidate who incurred such expenditures;
ii, The nature or purpose of each expenditure;
iii, ‘The description of the goods or services provided by the contractor or business firm;

iv. The date when the expenses were incurred;
v. The amount or cost thereof; and

vi, The serial number of the official receipt, cash invoice, or other Bureau of Internal
Revenue-approved document issued.

Reportorial requirements shall apply to all contractors and business firms transacting or doing
business in the Philippines, whether or not incorporated under the Philippine laws.

Social media associates, including paid digital influencers and online content creators, who use
social media platforms to promote or defeat the election of any candidate, are considered individual
contractors subject to reportorial requirements under this Act.

Agencies and other intermediaries between the entities producing and placing online political
advertisements and the candidate, political party or party-list group shall also submit a similar
report.

Within the period provided by law, internet companies which include social media companies,
transacting or doing business in the Philippines, whether or not incorporated under the Philippine
laws, which a candidate or party utilize to directly reach out to voters and mobilize support through
the use of ads, paid promoted hashtags/trends, shall provide the COMELEC of the information or
documents containing the following:

i. The name of the candidate or party in the advertisement;

ii, The name of the person or advertising agency/public relations firm who paid the
advertisement;

iii, Page Name or Account Name or Handle where the advertisement was posted,
originated, or uploaded;

iv. The particulars of the political advertisement; and
v. The amount or cost of the advertisement
SEC. 12. Election Offense. - Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall constitute an election

offense punishable under the first and second paragraph of Section 264 of Batas Pambansa Blg.

1


881, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, and other pertinent laws,
rules and regulations, whenever applicable. The COMELEC shall, through its duly authorized legal
officers, have the power, concurrent with other prosecuting arms of the government, to conduct
preliminary investigation of all election offenses and prosecute the same.

SEC. 13. Right of Reply. — Any candidate or person accused of violating any provision of this Act
shall be given the right of reply.

SEC. 14, Authority of the COMELEC to Promulgate Rules. - The COMELEC shall promulgate and
furnish all political parties and candidates and all concerned entities the rules and regulations for
the implementation of this Act, consistent with the criteria established in Article IX-C, Section: 4
of the Constitution and Section 86 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Rules and regulations promulgated by the COMELEC under and by authority of this Section shall
take effect on the seventh day after their publication in at least two (2) daily newspapers of general
circulation. Prior to the effectivity of said rules and regulations, no political advertisement or
propaganda for or against any candidate or political party shall be published or broadcast through
the internet and social media.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - In case any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, such declaration shall have no effect in the validity or constitutionality of the
remaining provisions hereof.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days its after publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

12