The two-minute video started with Boy Bawal, with this supporters carrying flaglets, reminding the candidates to follow the election rules or be reprimanded by him.
Boy Bawal then showed the campaign DON’T’s such as oversized posters; campaign materials posted in public vehicles, trees and public structures; and vote-buying, among others. Other prohibited acts are listed on www.mycomelec.tv.
At the end of the video, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. urged the public: “Umpisa na ang kampanya, kapag may nakita kayong mga bawal, pakisumbong niyo sa amin dito sa Comelec.”
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they decided to use a regular person as Boy Bawal “to make the advertisement more relatable, more entertaining and therefore more likely to be remembered and shared.”
“Virality of the material was a major consideration,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.
The video was produced in-house by the Comelec’s Education and Information Department, which is under Jimenez.
The poll body sent a request to all networks for the airing of the ‘Boy Bawal Ad’ as part of the Comelec space and time for the May 13 polls to be utilized exclusively for public information dissemination on election related-concerns as stated in Section 13 of Comelec Resolution No. 9615.
The video can also be viewed on Comelec’s YouTube channel and on Comelec-EID blog.
The poll body earlier called on the public to report violations on campaign rules by tweeting the @comelec and using the hashtag #sumbongko. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News
