Comelec spox calls out candidates, party-list groups over illegal posters

Jimenez then commented on the campaign material of Roxas which was also displayed on a tree, saying, “Isa ka pa. Marami namang pwedeng kabitan na common poster area, dyan ka pa sa bawal.” (Photo: James Jimenez/Twitter)

On the first day of the campaign period, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez on Tuesday, February 12, called out several Senatorial aspirants and party-list groups over their materials which are oversized or not placed in common poster areas.

In a series of Tweets, Jimenez posted the prohibited posters of Senatorial candidates Christopher “Bong” Go, Mar Roxas II, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. He also warned party-list groups Buhay and Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA).

Jimenez first posted a photo of Go’s poster along with President Rodrigo Duterte, with the two making the latter’s fist-bump trademark and  at the top, the poster states, “Happy New Year 2019.”

Reacting to it, the Comelec’s mouthpiece said, “Kahit walang ‘Vote’ or ‘Iboto’ or kaparehong salita, campaign propaganda pa rin. Kailangan pa rin patanggal lalo’t mali ang sukat at mali ang lokasyon, mga ser (Even though it does not bare the words ‘Vote’ or ‘Please Vote’ or any similar words, it is still a campaign propaganda. It needs to be removed especially because it has the wrong size and it is at the wrong location, sirs).”

Jimenez also shared a photo of Buhay party-list’s poster placed on a footbridge.

“Bawal na para sa mga national positions – kasama party-list dyan – na magpaskil ng lampas sa 2’x3’ na materials, at ‘yung wala sa common poster area. ‘Di ba, Buhay (It is now prohibited for national positions – including party-list groups – to place materials which have sizes that exceed two feet by three feet, and are not in the common poster area. Right, Buhay)?” he tweeted.

Also calling out PBA party-list, the Comelec official wrote, “Wrong size na nga, wrong location na rin, KINABIT PA SA PUNO (Aside from having the wrong size, in the wrong location, you also attached it in a tree). Three-points! PBA, pakitanggal naman (please remove it).”

He then commented on the campaign material of Roxas which was also displayed on a tree, saying, “Isa ka pa. Marami namang pwedeng kabitan na common poster area, dyan ka pa sa bawal (You too. There is a lot of common poster area where you could have hung this, but you still put it in a prohibited place).”

“Mukhang maling sukat; definitely maling location. Patanggal mo na ‘yan ser (It seems like it has the wrong size; definitely it is in the wrong location. Have it removed, sir),” he added.

Jimenez did not spare the illegal posters of Estrada and Revilla.

“Ito (This one), two for one. Mga ser, bawal po ‘yan. Maling sukat, maling lokasyon (Sirs, it is prohibited there. Wrong size and wrong location),” he said.

Stated in Comelec Resolution 10488, promulgated on January 30,  parties and candidates are only allowed to post their campaign materials in “authorized common poster areas in public places” such as plazas, markets, and barangay centers.

As for the size, the Comelec Resolution states that the posters of political parties and party-list groups should not exceed 12 feet by 16 feet, or its equivalent but not exceeding a total area of 192 square feet.

For the independent candidates, their posters should be within four feet by six feet or its equivalent but not exceeding a total area of 24 square feet.

Meanwhile, the sizes of individual posters that may be posted in common poster areas should not exceed two feet by three feet.

“However, in case of space limitations, posters of candidates of political parties may be reduced to a uniform size to accommodate all candidates,” the resolution read.

“This regulation is also violated by making single letters of names having the maximum size or lesser and then putting them together to form a size exceeding two feet by three feet,” it added.

In his other tweet, Jimenez has reminded all the candidates to remove their posters and streamers within 24 hours after the political rally or gathering.

Likewise, he also said netizens can submit reports about illegal posters through talktocomelec@gmail.com, their official Facebook account (facebook.com/comelecph), Instagram account (instagram.com/comlectv), and Twitter account (@COMELEC)

Their reports must indicate the following: if the material is oversized or out of place or both, the location of the illegal material, and the date when the photo was taken.

The Comelec also encouraged netizens to use hashtag #SumbongSaCOMELEC on their social media posts.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups will end on May 11.

On the other hand, the campaign period for local bets is set for March 29 to May 11.

Campaigning is not allowed on Maundy Thursday, April 18, and Good Friday, April 19.