Palace won’t meddle in Comelec’s ‘Oplan Baklas’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is distancing itself from the “Oplan Baklas” program of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying it respects the independence of the constitutional body.

Comelec’s Oplan Baklas has earned broad criticism after authorities removed campaign posters and murals that were even displayed on private properties.

“Comelec is an independent constitutional body. We have to respect the independence of Comelec, especially dahil eleksyon period ngayon (because it’s election period now),” Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said in a Palace briefing when asked if Malacañang would ask the poll body to halt its program.

Nevertheless, Nograles said that while Comelec’s independence must be respected, those with grievances have legal recourses that can explore.

“’Yung mayroong mga grievances, mayroon silang mga legal recourse that they can also explore but as far as we are concerned, we must respect the independence of Comelec,” he said.

Reports and video footage have shown incidents where even uniformed personnel removed campaign materials that supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan installed in private premises. Critics have called such action “unconstitutional.”

Robredo and Pangilinan have teamed up to run for president and vice president, respectively, in the upcoming May 9 elections.

Robredo’s supporters in Isabela province and Zamboanga City have been complaining that certain authorities tore down Leni-Kiko tarpaulins hung on their private property without giving them prior notice.

They suspected malicious intent, pointing out that these areas appeared to be dominated by supporters of current survey frontrunners, presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Camps of Robredo and Pangilinan are reportedly considering filing a case against Comelec, describing the removal of the campaign materials as “very arbitrary” and “a clear case of abuse of power and discretion, and violation of one’s constitutional right to property.”

READ: ‘Oplan Baklas’ slammed for ‘abuse’; Comelec firm

Critics also deemed such action against campaign materials displayed on private premises as stepping on the freedom of expression and speech of non-candidates.

Comelec, for its part, said freedom is not absolute and it can be regulated “without constitutional insult in the proper circumstances, under the proper conditions.”

Comelec Director and spokesperson James Jimenez has also denied that authorities conducting Oplan Baklas are invading private properties, saying they ask permission first before entering.

But former Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon insisted that the operations are considered “trespassing” – even joking that private owners can let loose their dogs if authorities enter their premises without permission.

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KGA