Comelec tells candidates to take down campaign materials

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is urging candidates to remove all of their campaign materials, especially those displayed outside common poster areas, whether they won or lost in the race.

“It goes without saying that since they are the ones that put them up, it is also their responsibility to take them down,” said Commissioner Luie Tito Guia yesterday.

Although he admitted that candidates are not required by law to take down their campaign posters, Comelec can still go after candidates who placed materials outside the common poster areas identified by field election officers.

“We can look at their possible violation, especially for campaign posters that are illegally placed. That is where they can be held accountable,” Guia pointed out.

He also said that Comelec relies on the local government units to remove these campaign materials. At least 1.07 million people vied for 671,168 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) seats in Monday’s poll.

It was a different case in Ligao City, Albay province, where Barangay Palapas chairman Norcesita Cañaveral sued Jesper Roco for destroying her campaign posters five days before the elections by either removing or tearing them.

She claimed her son, Jeffrey Salcedo, saw how Roco took down the posters pasted near the house of Francisco Salcedo. 

Senior Insp. Manny Ramos said a complaint for violation of Section 20 of RA 9006 or the Fair Election Act and of Comelec Resolution 3636 was filed against the suspect before the Ligao City prosecutor’s office.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez also warned yesterday that winning candidates could not assume their posts unless they file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). 

“We entered into an agreement with the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) that they will not administer the Oath of Office to persons who are not able to present a Certificate of Compliance from the Comelec that they submitted SOCE,” he said. 

Even losing bets and those who filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) but did not pursue their electoral bids, he added, are mandated to file their SOCE under the law. 

“As long as you filed your COCs – winners, losers or even disqualified candidates – must file SOCEs within 30 days after election day. That means their deadline is on June 13,” Jimenez said. 

Failure to file SOCE twice may lead to perpetual disqualification from holding public office.  

Legal assistance

Teachers and others who served in the Board of Election Tellers (BET) in Monday’s poll will be provided with legal assistance should losing candidates sue them, the Comelec said yesterday. 

In a press briefing, Comelec acting chairman Al Parreno said the poll body had partnered with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to make sure BETs are legally protected.

Many losing candidates in previous elections sued teachers they accused of rigging election results, especially during manual polls where the determination of a valid vote depends on the interpretation of the BET chairman.

Aside from administrative or criminal charges, teachers complained of coercion and harassment by bets and their supporters.

These conditions have discouraged teachers from doing poll duty in the past and led to the passage of Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act in April 2016 to make poll duties voluntary for public school teachers.

Meanwhile, the group Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has suggested that Comelec consider introducing occupational health and safety standards in future elections, especially if it would be conducted manually.

Manual elections, according to TDC chairman Benjo Basas, are taking a toll on teachers who serve in the elections, with some having to serve for over 24 hours in the recent poll.

He noted that teachers face additional tasks because precincts were clustered starting 2010, which “practically doubled” the efforts needed to get the work done.

“The whole election process does not seem to be favoring the poll workers, mostly teachers. Since the election is manual and the precincts for barangay and SK are combined, the precinct tasks are practically doubled for members of the Electoral Board. Thus, they have to perform more tasks than usual and have to endure continuous mental and physical work for 24 hours or even more,” he explained.

Basas noted that some teachers had to sleep in their respective election centers while waiting for clearance from the election officers and that several were seen still lining up yesterday morning. – With Janvic Mateo, Celso Amo