Using negative campaigning against another candidate is permitted under the Omnibus Election Code but could lead to cyber libel charges, the head of the Commission on Elections said Tuesday. 

Garcia: Comelec cannot ban negative campaigning

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said accusing the candidate of not graduating from a particular university is different from, say, accusing someone of being a thief.

“Meron na tayong cyber-libel na tinatawag. Kapag nakakasira ng puri o nag-a-accuse ka na isang krimen o isang bagay na hindi naman totoo. Meron ding libel o slander. Lahat nang iyan ay limitasyon doon sa karapatan ng tao na mag-negative campaigning,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

Garcia earlier said the commission has no power to go after supporters of candidates with malicious statements or public pronouncements.