Comelec welcomes law schools help in poll drive

A partnership with law schools to monitor violations of election laws is welcome, but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office said it has yet to receive any invitation for this arrangement.

Cebu provincial election supervisor Eddie Aba said the poll agency will not initiate the move.

“We’re open to working with the law schools. But they should partner with us,” he said in an interview yesterday.

The Comelec will send notices to candidates asking them to remove illegal campaign materials.

But as of yesterday, Aba said the poll body hasn’t issued any notice to any candidate yet.

Aba said election officers are mandated to send the notices to candidates, taking into consideration several campaign posters which go against the law on fair campaigning.

He said the candidate to whom the notice will be served will have three days to remove his or her illegal campaign material.

Otherwise, Aba said they will refer the issue to the Comelec’s legal department for action.

Those found guilty of violating the campaign guidelines shall be imprisoned for one to six years.

Violation of campaign guidelines shall also be a ground for the candidate’s disqualification.

The Comelec also urged people to help them monitor illegal campaign materials.

As of yesterday, Aba said they haven’t receive any complaint regarding violations of electoral laws.

Under the law, campaign posters should be placed on designated common poster areas which were earlier selected by poll officials.

Comelec provincial officer Ferdinand Guijilde said the common poster areas were chosen due to “heavy pedestrian traffic,” allowing the electorate to take a glimpse of the campaign materials.

He reminded candidates that the maximum size for campaign posters should be 2 x 3 feet while campaign leaflets must only be 8.5 x 14 inches.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 9615, campaign materials are prohibited on trees, telephone and electrical lines and posts, school gates, different public utility vehicles such as bus, jeepney, tricycle, pedicab, as well as other non-common poster areas. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol