PJ, Duke face raps before Comelec

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu gubernatorial candidate Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia and two others are facing a complaint before the Commission on Elections for alleged illegal posting of campaign materials. 

Aside from Garcia, Atty. Gloria Ramos, co-founder of Philippine Earth Justice Center, Inc, also filed a complaint against reelectionist Mayor Duke Frasco of   Liloan and Gideon Cabatingan, a candidate for councilor in the town.

But Garcia said he is not yet aware of the complaint filed against him.

In her complaint filed on April 12, Ramos said Garcia, Frasco and Cabatingan posted their campaign materials outside the common poster area and in prohibited areas as such trees, electric posts and waiting shed.

Ramos said Frasco’s campaign posters were posted on trees near the municipal hall and those along the highway.

She said she will also file today a complaint against two Cebu City councilors over the same violations.

PJ hits complaint

Garcia questioned Ramos’ filing of the complaint against him.

“She didn’t file cases against our opponents? That’s quite selective, isn’t it?” Garcia said.

He said the complaint filed against him is highly questionable considering the past cases filed by Ramos against his elder sister, suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

“She’ll have to prove that I personally put up those posters and not my opponent whom she supports, to put me in a bad light,” he said.

Garcia said his instructions are clear to his supporters and staff that posting of his campaign materials should only be done in common poster areas.

He said he has informed environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa that his campaign materials would never be posted on trees.

Garcia said he has not received information about any of his supporters caught illegally posting campaign materials.

But he said he cannot expect his supporters to be watchful all the time.

“It’s impossible to monitor this province-wide on a 24-hour basis,” he said.

Garcia said there are “very palpable operation laksi” against his campaign materials in some parts of the fifth district.

“Who knows where these materials end up?” said Garcia, hinting the possibility that Ramos could also be involved.

“Besides, how do we know she and her group didn’t remove our posters and transfer them to trees just so we’ll get into trouble?” he asked.

Public help

Meanwhile, the Comelec is aware that seeking help from the public to report illegally posted campaign propaganda may not be easy.

This is due to the safety concerns of the complainants.

But Comelec-7 director Temie Lambino hopes this would not stop the people from helping them in their fight against campaign violators.

Lambino said if the public is afraid to report, they would not be able to curb the problem of illegal posting campaign materials, which is one of the major problems every election.

“Kung natatakot lang tayo, this is a vicious cycle. Babalik din to sa 2016 election,” he said.

He however clarified that he is not discounting the security of the public.

“Safety is very important. I am not disregarding the safety of each individual. Pero ang kino-consider ko dito is ang paramount importance and it is the rule of law,” said Lambino.

He said he is gratefulness to private citizens, local government units and non-government organizations that have done their part in monitoring illegally posted campaign propaganda.

Lambino even lauded a Cebu City citizen who sent a letter to the Comelec complaining about campaign materials of two candidates for councilors posted in his property. - with Denelle Dolleson, /LPM (FREEMAN)