Comelec to use illegal materials as evidence vs. erring poll bets

FILE: MARAWI VILLAGE AND YOUTH POLLS. Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez (left) answers questions from the media during a press conference at National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City on Wednesday (Sept. 5, 2018), regarding the printing of ballots to be used in the Barangay and Sangguniaang Kabataan elections in Marawi. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said it will keep all illegal campaign materials of national candidates that have been removed from operations in some parts of Metro Manila as evidence for cases to be filed against violators of election laws.

“We will go to identified areas and from there, we will document these materials that are in violation of campaign rules.

We will tear these down. Next, we will preserve these,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press briefing at the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) office in EDSA, Makati City.

Jimenez noted that preservation of illegal campaign materials will help them identify violators of election laws.

At the same time, Jimenez commended the action of some candidates whom he did not identify, for voluntarily removing their posters outside the common poster areas.

On Thursday, the Comelec, together with its deputized agencies namely the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and its attached agency, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB); and MMDA, conducted a massive drive against illegal campaign posters in the cities of Mandaluyong (Kalentong Street), San Juan (N. Domingo Street), Caloocan (Zabarte Road), Valenzuela (Valenzuela Astrodome, G. Lazaro Street) and Quezon (Kingspoint Subdivision and Commonwealth Avenue).

The operations are pursuant to the provisions under the Fair Elections Act and Comelec Resolution 10488, where they will scour the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to remove and tear down all prohibited forms of campaign propaganda materials.

Under Resolution 10488, campaign posters should be no more than two by three feet and posted or displayed only in designated common poster areas or in private property with the consent of the owner.

Public places where campaign propaganda is prohibited include LED and LCD monitors on walls of public buildings; motor vehicles owned by LGUs and GOCCs; public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government such as the MRT, LRT and PNR.

Likewise, it is prohibited to post such materials on waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signage and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, bridges, main thoroughfares, center islands of roads and highways; schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centers; and within the premises of public transport terminals owned and controlled by the government.

The campaign period for national posts started last February 12 and will run until May 11 while candidates running in local positions will start their campaign period on March 30 until May 11.