Comelec warns illegally posted BSKE campaign materials will be taken down

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia leads the agency’s Operation Baklas along Recto Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Garcia has issued a stern warning to barangay poll bets who will continue to post campaign materials illegally, saying that Comelec will be willing to remove these posters everyday.
(Photo from Gabriel P. Lalu/ INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a stern warning against candidates in Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) who post campaign materials in an illegal manner.

The poll body said it is willing to take down all of these paraphernalia every day.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia made these statements in an ambush interview on Friday near Recto Avenue in Manila.

He led the ‘Operation Baklas’ against these items in the area.

The Comelec chair said they will file cases against BSKE candidates who violate election regulations.

Comelec is also gearing up for anti-vote buying operations, which he expects to heat up in the last three days of the campaign period that started on Thursday.

“Syempre, magpa-file kami ng kaso muna sa lahat no’ng mga nagkabit at illegal campaign (materials), at pagkatapos, after na nito magkakaro’n naman tayo (ng gagawin), ‘yong sa laban natin sa kontra bigay,” he told reporters.

(Of course, we will file cases first against those posting illegal campaign materials, and then, after this, we will move over to anti-vote buying operations.)

“Alam natin ngayon, wala pa masyadong namimili or namimigay nang kung ano-ano,” he said.

(We know that, for now, not much vote buying is being conducted.)

“Darating ‘yan, mga tatlong araw bago mag-eleksyon. Yan ang sunod na kampanya natin,” he noted.

(That will peak in around three days before the elections. That’s our next campaign.)

“Sa mga magkakabit pa ng mga posters, kung araw-araw kayo magkakabit illegally, araw-araw din kami magbabaklas. Di namin titigilan ‘yan,” he said.

(To those who will post posters illegally, if you will do this every day, we will also remove these every day. We will not stop.)

Garcia specified they will not take down campaign materials hinged on wooden frames as long as the posters are within the size limits and are posted in private properties.

However, once these are items placed in structures that are public properties — including electric and communication lines, the Comelec chief said they will remove the tarpaulins and related items.

“Private property, legal ‘yan basta nagko-comply sa 2 (feet) by 3 (feet),” he pointed out.

(If posted within private property, that’s legal as long as it complies with the 2 feet by 3 feet regulation.)

“Ang daming ginagawang mga pamamaraan. Yong mga bande-banderitas pa,” he observed.

(Many are trying to circumvent this rule. There are even fiesta banners.)

“Pag nilagay nyo ‘yan sa public place, kahit sa mga kalsada, iligal po ‘yan — lalo na sa mga kawad ng kuryente,” the Comelec chairman explained.

(If you place that in public places, or even along roads, that’s illegal — especially on electric cables.)

“Pinapahirapan nyo pa ‘yong mga taga-tanggal,” he lamented.

(You are making it hard for the people who will remove that.)

During the operations along Recto Avenue and Oroquieta Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Garcia and his team took down several posters.

The items included banners along electrical lines and under LRT Line 2’s Recto Station.

Several garbage trucks from city of Manila, along with local police, were there during the activity.

Comelec reminds poll candidates about election rules, which limit the size of campaign posters, billboards and tarpaulins to a maximum dimension of 2 x 3 feet.

Campaign materials are also meant to be put up in common poster areas or in private properties.

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