LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—The top poll official in Quezon province has reminded local politicians here to remove banners, posters, and streamers bearing their names after filing their certificates of candidacy (CoC).
Lawyer Allan Enriquez, head of the Commission on Elections-Quezon, gave the warning on Monday as campaign materials sprouted all over Quezon in violation of campaign rules.
The Comelec scheduled an early filing of all such certificates from November 20 to December 1, 2009, to give the poll body time to prepare the special ballots needed for the country’s first automated elections on May 10, 2010.
However, the schedules for the start of the campaigning shall remain the same: February 9 to May 8, 2010 for presidential, vice presidential, and senatorial bets; and March 26 to May 8, 2010 for congressional and local candidates.
“Once a politician files the certificate of candidacy, he or she is compelled by law to remove all banners, streamers, and posters. Those materials can only be used once the official campaign period starts or else the candidate could be in danger of disqualification,” Enriquez, said in an interview Monday.
In a report, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento urged candidates in the 2010 polls to refrain from promoting themselves indirectly, for instance through the use of tarpaulins and streamers that have their faces and names as that would still be tantamount to endorsement of their candidacies through name recall.
The Supreme Court ruled in Peñera vs Comelec that a candidate can be disqualified for “premature campaigning” or holding of campaigns right after the filing of his CoC.
Enriquez said the Comelec would issue notices to candidates reminding them of the rules of campaigning.
He said his office would tap the assistance of the police and village officials in removing the unauthorized banners, streamers, and posters in the whole province on December 1, the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy.
“It’s much better if the candidates themselves will voluntarily remove their banners and streamers,” the poll official said.
Enriquez noted that Quezon province had the most number of streamers compared with other parts of the country.
A cursory look around the province shows that Quezon Governor Rafael Nantes is among those with the most number of white canvass streamers.
With his name written in bold blue letters and “Pilipinas! Quezon Naman!” slogan, the banners show Nantes congratulating local executives who enjoyed office promotions and passed licensure examinations, announcing the launch of government projects, and greeting residents during festival celebrations.
Nantes’s streamers are being prominently displayed in strategic roads and in some conspicuous spots of the Maharlika Highways from Tiaong town to Quezon-Bicol boundary area to as far as the Calauag municipality.
The streamers of the provincial chief executive are also prominently hung in the Quezon provincial capitol grounds, Perez Park, and in the vicinity of the Quezon Medical Center in the outskirts of the city.
“We will obey the law,” Dennis Guerrero, Quezon provincial lawyer, said when sought for his comment on the proliferation of Nantes’s streamers.
Streamers of Representative Proceso Alcala, which never fail to include the names of his elder brother, Quezon board member Vicente “Kulit” Alcala, and nephew, former Lucena Vice Mayor Dondon Alcala, are also displayed at prominent spots in Quezon.
Vicente has publicly declared his intention to run as governor and Dondon is again planning to regain his old post at the city government.
Streamers and posters from Lucena’s premier political family led by Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr.—which also carry the names of his sons, provincial board member Romano and city councilor Ramil—have also been seen in different areas around the city.
Lately, streamers and posters carrying the names of different local politicians sponsor singing and dance contests, basketball league, and other games.
