A DAY into the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday warned candidates about the prohibition on misplaced and/or unlawful campaign materials.
In a radio interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are issuing a general warning to all erring candidates for them to follow existing campaign guidelines.
“We expect (violations), especially from the ‘epal’ candidates, who don’t know how to follow our guidelines. This is a warning to them,” said Garcia, adding: “This already counts as the first warning to these candidates. We shall see (how they respond).”
Garcia issued the statement after observing several misplaced campaign materials during the first day of the BSKE campaign period.
And given the violations they have observed, the Comelec said it will simultaneously conduct the “Operation Baklas” nationwide beginning today, October 20.
“The removal of unlawful campaign materials posted on designated common poster areas or other public places shall be done from October 20 to 27,” said the Comelec.
Considered unlawful campaign materials are individual posters, billboards, posters, and tarpaulins exceeding 2×3 feet; collage-like poster exceeding 2×3 feet, and posters with single letters of names which, when assembled together, will form a size exceeding 2×3 feet.
Also deemed as unlawful are propaganda materials that are not in designated common poster areas, which are plazas, markets, barangay centers, and other similar places, where posters may be readily seen or read and with the heaviest pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in the city or municipality.
As for unlawful campaign materials posted in private places, the Commission said they will not be the subject of “baklas” operations given the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court back on March 1, 2022.
Nevertheless, the Comelec said it is not prohibited from taking the necessary steps to cause their removal in the private places as may be allowed by law.
Aside from having the campaign materials removed, the poll body said Show Cause Orders shall also be sent to the concerned BSKE candidates.
The BSKE campaign period opened yesterday and shall run until October 28.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the first day of the BSKE campaign period was relatively peaceful.
“As per monitoring po ng PCC (PNP Command Center), so far relatively peaceful pa naman po including areas under election areas of concern po,” Fajardo said.
WITHDRAWAL
Garcia said the Comelec cannot force any BSKE bet to pursue their candidacy and to not withdraw.
“Bottomline is it is under the discretion of the candidate if they will still run or withdraw their candidacy,” said Garcia.
The poll chief issued the statement after at least 122 BSKE candidates for different positions in Abra “voluntarily” withdrew their COCs.
According to Garcia, there are several reasons for the “voluntary” withdrawal of the candidates, among them that the candidates were threatened from running in the BSKE, some of them backed out after being talked into it by their relatives who are also candidates, and they withdrew after being given money by their political rivals.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10924, any person, who has filed a COC may withdraw it at any time before Election Day by personally filing a sworn Statement of Withdrawal with the Office of Election Officer where the COC was filed. — With Victor Reyes
