DO you see an illegal election poster on a tree or a wall?
Ready-made complaint forms are avilable for citizens who want to take action.
The forms are available at the Comelec regional office at Osmeña Boulevard near the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City.
Standard formats are ready for election offenses, which are criminal violations, as well as petitions seeking to disqualify a candidate, which is an administrative offense, said Cebu provincial election supervisor Ferdinand Guijulde.
A Declaration of Commitment and Action was signed yesterday with the Comelec by civil society groups in Cebu as part of the Basura-Free Election 2013 campaign “Kalt Ko, Sisinupin Ko”.
The agreement encourages citizens, especially the youth to take part while the Comelec will cause the filing of legal action against violators.
The agreement was signed by Dean Baldomero Estenzo of the University of Cebu College of Law, lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos as trustee of the Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc., Estrella Catarata for FARDEC, executive director Owen Migraso of the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center and Edilyn Lopez, provincial coordinator of the Outstanding Students of the Philippines.
Comelec Regional Director Temie Adlawan signed for the poll body.
Guijile said notices have been sent to some candidates warning them to remove campaign posters that violate election law within three days or face charges. He didn’t disclose any names.
If a candidate fails to act, the local election officer will take a photo of the illegal campaign materials and used it as basis in filing a complaint.
Election materials can only be posted in Comelec-designated common poster areas or in private properties with consent of the owner.
Posters cannot exceed 2 feet x 3 feet while campaign leaflets must be 8.5 x 14 inches.
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. /Ador Vincent S. Mayol with Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon