Playtime is over.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes yesterday vowed to crack down on erring candidates who have been flaunting election rules on illegal campaigning and illegal campaign materials.
“You (local candidates) just posted everywhere your propaganda materials even before the start of the campaign period since you (were) not prohibited. It is now our turn to be strict with regards to your campaigning,” Brillantes said, addressing the candidates.
Candidates got away with cluttering walls and posts with their posters in past weeks because the Comelec could go after them only after the start of the election campaign period for local candidates on Black Saturday, March 30.
“We have instructed our people to start sending notices to take down illegally placed posters and campaign materials by April 1,” he added.
Under Comelec rules, political parties and candidates may post their campaign materials only in authorized common poster areas in public places and in private places as long as they have the consent of the owner.
Violators can be charged with committing an election offense, which is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, loss of the right to vote, and being barred from public office.
Brillantes said he wanted the notices sent out as early as today, April 1, so that the Comelec could weed out those who would refuse to follow campaign rules.
“If they do not follow, we can already start the process (of filing charges against them),” Brillantes said.
Erring candidates have three days to remove their illegal posters after getting a notice.
If they fail to do so, the Comelec would begin filing charges against them.
TEAM RAMA
In Cebu City, Team Rama candidates said they already started taking down their posters from unauthorized sites.
“We were instructed by Mayor (Michael) Rama to follow the rules,” said Eliodoro “Yody” Sanchez, who is running for city councilor.
He admitted that “our oversized posters are a violation of Comelec rules” referring to materials that exceed the two feet by three feet official size.
He said Team Rama just matched the tarpaulin sizes of the Type O posters of the rival Bando Osmena- Pundok Kasuwagan.
Sanchez said they started taking down some of their posters last week before the March 28 campaign period began on Black Saturday.
Posters of various political parties and candidates can be seen on roadside walls, utility posts, and some trees in the city.
South district congressional bet Aristotle Batuhan, in a press conference in the Rama compound yesterday, said, challenged other parties to do the same and remove their illegal posters.
“We have elevated the level of debate. Let’s talk about programs. Reduce the campaign materials outside the designated campaign areas.”INQUIRER with Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao