Comelec won’t take down illegal posters, will send notice for candidates to do it

CEBU, Philippines - “You posted it, you take it down.”

This is the advance message of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to candidates who will be getting notices starting next week on illegally posted campaign propaganda.

Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said that starting next week, they will be sending notices to candidates who have campaign propaganda posted outside common posting areas.

After receipt of the notices, Lambino said that the candidates should immediately act on it by having their posters removed.

Lambino said that the Comelec will not be removing the posters or will have designated partners do this since the candidates should be the one responsible for their posters.

“Kung kami kasi nagtatanggal, bumabalik pa din yan the next day. So hindi kami magbabaklas. Sila ang naglagay, sila dapat magtanggal,” said Lambino. (If we take them down, the candidates will still put them back again. So it’s best that they themselves remove these.)

Lambino said that he will be meeting this Friday a group of lawyers headed by Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, who are willing to help the Comelec in preparing documents for possible violators as well as cases that can be filed against them.

By next week, Lambino said they will start sending notices to candidates who have violated campaign regulations.

Also, Lambino said that Cebu City election officers will also be meeting on Monday local candidates in the city to discuss on election materials and what needs to be removed.

Compared to the past elections, Lambino said though that they are glad there are not that many violators in Cebu as far as posting of campaign propaganda is concerned. 

He said that they are pleased to know that there are local government units who have been doing their part as responsible politicians. 

Last Tuesday, Mayor Jonas Cortes and Mayor Paz Radaza of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities respectively, took down their own posters and of their own parties that were not put up in common poster areas.

Not stating names, Lambino said that these acts of initiative should be emulated by candidates as “good models” of the public.  (FREEMAN)