Disqualification awaits poll violators

Candidates who violate the Fair Elections Act will be disqualified from continuing with their electoral bid. If they get elected, they won’t be allowed to take office.

This was the stern warning of Regional Director Temie Lambino of the Commission on Elections which opened a public demonstration of how the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) machine works at the SM City Cebu.

“We remind the candidates that anyone who violates the law on campaigning shall not be proclaimed winners. If ever they will be proclaimed, they won’t be allowed to assume their positions,” he added.

Lambino said anyone found guilty of posting illegal campaign materials faces imprisonment of one to six years.

“The main problem in elections is really the illegal campaign materials. We shall file charges against the violators,” Lambino told reporters.

He said the Comelec will coordinate with environment advocates to remove illegal campaign materials especially those placed on trees.

Environmental lawyer and Cebu Daily News columnist Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said law schools in Cebu were willing to help Comelec remove illegal campaign materials.

“We, the environmentalists, will look at trees where illegal campaign materials are posted. There were even heritage trees where the items were placed,” she said.

“We commend the Comelec for showing political will. The candidates should take the word of the Comelec seriously,” she said.

She also encouraged the citizenry to help Comelec in its campaign against illegal campaign materials.

“We just want the rule of law. The election is when we make an important decision we make in our life. We encourage young people to actively participate (in our campaign against campaign violations),” she said.