Comelec to take legal move vs partylist group for not removing huge billboard in Bacolod

The Commission on Elections has removed the oversized billboard of Ito ang Tama partylist on top of a building in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Photo from Comelec

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is taking legal action against a partylist group for failing to remove an oversized campaign billboard on top of a building on Lacson Street here.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said on Sunday that she would also summon the agency that put up the billboard of Ito ang Tama partylist group.

Guanzon, a native of Negros Occidental, ordered the removal of the tarpaulin that read “Makabayan Ito ang Tama” that was on top of Mainstrip Tourism Inn.

The tarpaulin, which was about 20 feet in height and 120 feet in length, violated the allowable size for campaign materials under the Fair Election Act and Comelec Resolution 10488.

The Ito ang Tama Partylist, which is based in Tondo, Manila, has five nominees – Isagani Pascual, Jose Manuel Mendoza, Teodulo Malagen, Helen Ng-Pascual, and Maria Nieves Pascual.

Based on the House of Representatives website, Ito ang Tama has no member in the Lower House, said Guanzon, who had supervised the removal of the oversized campaign material on Saturday morning.

Guanzon thanked Lovely Yanson, the owner of the building, for being more than willing to comply with the Comelec order.