Comelec to tear down illegal campaign stuff

CEBU, Philippines — The head of the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Cebu has advised national candidates to remove personally the campaign materials displayed in non-designated areas and those violating the size regulations.

The election rules, including the prohibitions, already take effect today, which marks the start of the campaign period for national candidates such as senators and party-list representatives.

Acting Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Jerome Brillantes said starting February 12, the concerned national candidates are given 72 hours or a three-day notice for them to get rid of those posters hung illegally or campaign materials that are too big.

He said national candidates are only allowed to display posters in designated areas or public spaces like in barangays.

He said each barangay may allot an area where candidates or supporters can place the posters or pamphlets.

Brillantes said campaign materials may be as big as poster-size but not as huge as billboards.

Once the three day leeway expires, he said a Comelec special group will have to tear off those campaign materials.

“After the 72 hour notice, the law presumes that they (national candidates) knew about these illegally hung posters and it is with their consent and so we can get rid of these posters already,” he told reporters on Monday.

Brillantes said each municipality and city will have its own committee which will be spearheaded by the local election officers.

The committee, he added, is also composed of the police officers, and municipal engineers, among others.

These offices may also coordinate with other agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Brillantes clarified that they can only remove campaign materials of national candidates because campaigning has already started and so there is the premise that they are now considered as official candidates and are bound under the election rules.

Local candidates, however, are free to display anywhere and anything because campaign period at the local level is yet to start in March. (FREEMAN)