Two more candidates in Cebu City face complaints for posting campaign posters in non-designated areas in the city.
The Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. requested the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate council candidates Edwin Jagmoc of Team Rama and Sisinio Andales of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).
In her affidavit-complaint, ecology lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said Jagmoc has campaign materials posted outside the common poster areas.
Jagmoc’s posters were also seen on electric posts along Escario Street and in barangays Banilad and Talamban in Cebu City.
Andales allegedly has posters outside the common poster areas as well as on electric posts in Escario Street and Banilad, Cebu City.
“Hopefully, this will convince candidates to follow the law. Another one or so tomorrow,” said Ramos in a text message sent to Cebu Daily News yesterday.
Last week, Ramos filed similar complaints against Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, and council candidate Gideon Cabatingan.
The three local candidates were also accused of having illegal campaign posters.
Ramos said the respondents violated the Omnibus Election Code and the Comelec Resolution No. 9615. Attached in her complaints are photographs of the alleged illegal materials.
Under the election laws, the maximum size for campaign posters should be 2 x 3 feet while campaign leaflets must only be 8.5 x 14 inches.
Resolution No. 9615 also states that 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.
Ramos’s group and other civil society groups presented a declaration of commitment and action between the Comelec and civil society groups in the campaign against illegal campaign posters last week.
She said they were convinced to join the Comelec’s campaign against illegal campaign materials after seeing Cebu officials like Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes cleaning up their streets of campaign posters.
She said they were heartened that Comelec promised that petitions for disqualifications will be filed against any candidate who will not remove their illegal campaign materials.
Regional Comelec-7 Director Temie Lambino earlier cited businessman Dennis Maravilias for filing a complaint against Team Rama candidate Jerry Guardo and BO-PK candidate Alvin Arcilla for posting illegally sized campaign materials at his home in J. de Vera Street, barangay Carreta, Cebu City. Both candidates pledged to remove their materials. With Deputy Editor Stephen Capillas