MANILA, Philippines – Buhay partylist and senatorial candidate Joseph Victor (JV) Ejercito had the most number of legal notices from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding illegal campaign materials.
In the latest tally of the Comelec law department on April 20, Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay) partylist and San Juan representative JV Ejercito had been sent nine legal notices each to have their illegal posters taken down.
Second to Ejercito was senatorial candidate and Aurora representative Juan Edgardo Angara who has been sent seven legal notices to have his illegal posters removed.
The legal notices are sent to candidates advising them to remove illegal campaign posters. These posters have been put up in prohibited locations such as public infrastructure, public utility vehicles, electric posts and cables, trees, etc. or whose size have exceeded the size limit of two by three feet.
Upon receipt of a legal notice, the candidate would have three days to remove the offending posters or else face election charges.
Partylist groups Kabataan, Piston, and LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA), were previously summoned to the Comelec over their poster violations. A decision has yet to be released by the Comelec.
LPGMA has already had eight legal notices, Kabataan has four, while Piston has two, according to the Comelec law department.
Buhay partylist was recently issued a subpoena to appear before the Comelec along with Akbayan, 1 BRO Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc (PGBI), Sanlakas, and Bagong Henerasyon.
Akbayan has been issued four notices, 1 BRO PGBI has two, Sanlakas has three, and Bagong Henerasyon has one, according to the latest records.
In addition to Ejercito and Angara, those who have been issued legal notices were Bro. Eduardo Villanueva with five; Gregorio Honasan, Benigno Paolo Aquino IV, Ernesto Maceda, Loren Legarda, and Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. with four; Risa Hotiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV, Richard Gordon, and Edward Hagedorn with three; Cynthia Villar, Teodor Casiño, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Aquilino Pimentel III, Francis Escudero, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., and Margarita Cojuangco with two; and Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Alan Peter Cayetano and Grace Poe with one.
The poll body’s law department said it had issued a total of 72 notices for senatorial candidates so far.
Honasan, Ejercito, Villanueva, Aquino IV, Gordon, and Villar are set to appear before the Comelec for preliminary investigation regarding the alleged poster violations.
For the partylist groups, Anti-Crime and Terrorism-Community Involvement and Support, Inc has been issued four notices while Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA), Katribu Indigenous Peoples’ Sectoral Party, Anakpawis, and Gabriela all have three notices.
Groups that have two notice already are: 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group Inc, Anak Mindanao, Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms, Association of Laborers and Employees, Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc., Akap Bata, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines,
Partylists that have one notice each are: Magdalo, Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa mga Mag-sasaka, An Waray, Democratic Independent Workers Association Inc, Alliance of Volunteer Educators, Isang Layansang Aalalay sa Pinoy Skilled Workers, Ang Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino Inc, Isang Lapian ng Mangingisda at Bayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Ugnayan ng Maralita Laban sa Kahirapan, 1 BAP Partylist, Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation Inc, Abakada-Guro, Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba, Arts Business and Science Professionals, and Bayan Muna partylist.
A total of 79 legal notices had been sent to partylists, according to the Comelec law department.