‘Oplan Baklas’ removes over 900 campaign posters in Baguio City

Over 900 campaign posters of senatorial aspirants and partylists were removed by Comelec’s Oplan Baklas in Baguio City for allegedly violating rules on dimension and placement. Photos contributed by Neil Clark Ochangco

BAGUIO CITY – Composite teams led by the Commission on Election (Comelec) confiscated over 900 campaign posters of candidates running for national positions all over Baguio City during their early morning “Operation Baklas” Saturday, Feb. 19.

In a phone interview, lawyer Reyman Solbita, Comelec officer of Baguio City, said the confiscated campaign posters were mostly oversized and were not posted at assigned posting areas.

He said some failed to include the full name and address of those who printed the posters and failed to include the note: “This is a recyclable material.” He added that most of the confiscated posters are from senatoriables and partylist candidates.

“We will submit the listing to the Comelec law department and it is up to them to file the necessary charges,” he said.

Solbita said campaign posters should not exceed the allowable 2 feet by 3 feet while posters at the candidate’s headquarters should not exceed 3 feet by 8 feet.

The election officer further said they will not take down campaign posters that did not follow Comelec specifications posted inside private properties but they will notify the owner about the violation.

But he mentioned that he personally removed some oversized posters in three residences after the owners told him that they were not the ones who hung the posters.

According to Solbita, 10 composite teams composed of employees from the Comelec, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Public Works and Highways accompanied by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army scoured the city from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. to take down the posters.

He stressed that the PNP and the Army only provided the teams with security.

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