Illegal posters targeted for removal

CEBU, Philippines — As the campaign period for national candidates began yesterday, February 11, 2025, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office of the election officer in Mandaue City launched Oplan Baklas to remove campaign materials placed outside authorized common poster areas.

“Karon ang pag-start sa campaign period sa national candidate so atoa sad gisugdan sa pagbaklas sa mga posters outside authorized common poster areas sa mga national candidates,” said Mandaue Election Officer Anna Fleur Gujilde in an interview.

Gujilde said that since it is still the campaign period for national candidates, including senatorial hopefuls and partylists, they will only remove posters and other campaign materials belonging to them, not those of local candidates in Cebu.

Meanwhile, regarding the local candidates’ campaign, Gujilde clarified that the Comelec guidelines will take effect at the start of the official campaign period for local candidates, which begins on March 28.

Gujilde emphasized that campaign posters must adhere to the prescribed size limit of 2x3 feet.

However, if the poster represents a political party, multiple candidates can be featured together, provided it is placed within a designated common poster area with a maximum size of 12x16 feet or a total area of 192 square feet.

“Pwede nila ibutang diha ilang mga posters pero tag 2x3 gihapon kada isa nga kandidato,” Gujilde said.

Aside from oversized posters, the Comelec will also remove campaign materials in unauthorized areas outside designated common poster sites.

These prohibited areas for campaign posters include trees, electrical posts, and other public spaces such as waiting sheds, underpasses, overpasses, and skywalks, among others.

She said that in Mandaue City, they observed that a large number of campaign posters were placed in these prohibited areas.

As a result, they have focused their inspections along the highways to ensure compliance with election regulations.

“So far sa highway pa lang daghan na kaayog makita nga mga posters nga gipamutang sa poste ug sa mga kahoy,” said Gujilde.

She added that candidates are given three days from the start of the campaign period to remove any election propaganda placed in prohibited areas.

Gujilde assumed that some candidates may not have removed all their prohibited posters. However, she observed that some posters have already been taken down, particularly in the area around the Mandaue City Sports Complex.

“Naa lang siguro’y uban nga wala, so if nakita namo nga naa gihapon, we will remove them,” said Gujilde.

She said it would be better if candidates voluntarily asked their supporters to remove campaign posters placed in unauthorized areas to ensure compliance with election regulations.

As reported, the Comelec in Mandaue City has officially designated Common Poster Areas in all 27 barangays to ensure proper placement of campaign materials.

The Common Poster Areas in Mandaue City for the 2025 National and Local Elections is strategically located near barangay halls, public markets, barangay gyms, sports complexes or multi-purpose halls, as well as at the main entrances and thoroughfares of each barangay.   BRP (CEBU NEWS)