Eco-lawyer sues PJ, two others over illegal posters

ENVIRONMENTALIST Gloria Estenzo-Ramos has lodged complaints against three local candidates for alleged violation of election laws.

Ramos, a lawyer connected with the Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a probe on One Cebu gubernatorial bet and 3rd district  Rep. Pablo John Garcia, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco, and Liloan town council candidate Gideon Cabatingan.

Another environmental advocate and lawyer Antonio Oposa said yesterday that he has given Liberal Party gubernatorial bet Hilario “Junjun” Davide and Representative Garcia until today to remove their campaign posters which were nailed on trees.

If they fail to do so, he will file a case for violation of election laws before the Comelec and criminal cases for violation of of Presidential Decree 953 which prohibits  using nails to  injure trees.

In her affidavit-complaint, Ramos said Frasco has campaign materials placed on “trees near and around the municipal hall and those lined in the highway and even across a police station and two trees with the sign heritage trees and oustide the common poster area.”

Garcia, on the other hand, has campaign materials placed on “trees, electric posts, and waiting shed” as well as “outside of the common posters area.”

Ramos said Cabatingan also has campaign materials outside the common poster area, on trees and electric posts.

She said the respondents violated the Omnibus Election Code and the Comelec Resolution No. 9615./Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter with Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac