Candidates remove illegal posters after complaint

SAMBAG I barangay captain and City Council candidate Jerry Guardo personally removed his campaign materials that were illegally posted in the gate and fence of a businessman in barangay Carreta.

Guardo’s action was in response to the letter to the Commission on Election (Comelec) of businessman Dennis Maravillas. The businessman complained that his fence and gate have been covered by Guardo’s posters without his consent.

In a phone interview, Guardo said that he has already given instruction to his campaign staff to post only in common poster areas approved by the Comelec.

He said that he had learned a lesson from the complaint. “It’s a lesson to be learned nga mga personnel nako ma inform sad nako na dili lang sad sila magpataka ug pamutang. Even ang private places na ilang butangan, mananghid lang pud sila,” Guardo said.

(I’ve learned a lesson that my personnel should be informed ahead not to post my campaign materials anywhere even those in private places. They should ask permission from the owner first.)

Guardo’s posters started sprouting all over the north district during the Sinulog festival last January.

He said that there are also other politicians who are mounting illegal campaign materials in the city.

“Ang akoa lang na taymingan lang sad na concern ang kadtong complainant,” he said.

(It is just a coincidence that the subject of the complaint was me.)

He added, he should not be singled out as there are other candidates who have more posters than him outside the areas allowed by the Comelec.

According to Guardo, Maravillas did not ask him to pay since he has already cleaned all the mess they’ve done in his property.

The oversized campaign posters, which he also started removing were donated to him by supporters, Guardo said.

Meanwhile, Edwin Cadungog, the election officer of the north district said that they were satisfied to the quick response of the Guardo and another candidate who was also subject of a complaint Alvin Arcilla.

However, they are still assessing the cleanliness of the city from illegal campaign materials candidates for May 2013 elections have posted. /Christine Emily L. Pantaleon, Correspondent