Citizen action sought against illegal campaign materials

SINCE the Commission on Elections (Comelec) lacks the personnel to remove every poster and streamer plastered and hung throughout Cebu, it’s time for the public to remove these materials themselves.

“They can remove it on their own. I encourage them to take photos through their cellphones then post them on Facebook, put the date and caption,” said Fr. Carmelo Diola, executive director of the Dilaab Foundation Inc.

Diola also said the public can become citizen journalists by taking photos of these posters and posting them online to show everyone who among the incumbent officials or candidates are violating election laws.

Most candidates give the excuse that their supporters post these campaign materials but Diola said this doesn’t wash.

“They are responsible for their own supporters. They should tell them what they are doing isn’t right,” Diola said.

Diola said campaigning before the designated period only shows what kind of leaders these candidates will become.

“If they do not respect the law now, what more when they become elected officials?,” he said.

Philip Zafra, chief of staff of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, was tasked to head the removal of illegal posters around the city pursuant to the anti-loitering ordinance.

He said they have been consistent with their operations in removing campaign posters, whether they belonged to Team Rama or the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).

But Zafra said as soon as they remove these materials, they are immediately replaced.

“The problem is that they post the campaign materials at dawn. “It would be better if we all help each other,” he said.

At the start of the campaign period, campaign materials will have to be placed in common poster areas.

“The election officers will identify the areas with the heaviest pedestrian traffic, that will be the common poster area,” Comelec officer Ferdinand Gujilde said.