BOPK faces raps for “Type O” in jeepneys, oversized campaign materials of bets

CEBU, Philippines - Team Rama filed a complaint against Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Cebu City office over the “Type O” campaign materials displayed in public utility jeepneys.

A separate letter also complained against discussed the alleged oversized campaign posters of South District candidates for councilor Zenaida Amores and Margarita “Margot” Osmeña.

Former city councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, the legal counsel of Team Rama-UNA party, sent two separate letters both dated April 30 citing these concerns over alleged election violations by opposing party.

The complaints were received by the office of Cebu City South District Election Officer Atty. Ferdinand Gujilde on May 2. Both were based on COMELEC Resolution No. 9615 as well as the Omnibus Election Code.

According to Pesquera, the “Type O” posters in jeepneys violated Section 7 of the resolution enumerating the Prohibited Forms of Election Propaganda.

“From the start of the campaign period for Local Candidates, a number of public utility vehicles plying the route Guadalupe to Carbon have been used by the Local Liberal Party for their propaganda materials “TYPE O,” Pesquera said in the letter.

Attached to the complaint is a photo of a jeepney with plate number GVU-218 whose spare tire at the rear portion is covered with a “Type O” material.

Proving that “Type O” is identified with BOPK party, another photo was attached to the same complaint which is an example of congressional candidate Councilor Bebot Abellanosa with the signature “Type O” at the bottom.

The other complaint discussed the alleged oversized campaign posters of Amores and Osmeña, “blatantly violating” both the resolution and the election code. Section 6 of the resolution states that no campaign material shall exceed the maximum prescribed size of two feet by three feet.

BOPK chairman Cebu City South District Congressman Tomas Osmeña denied involvement in the alleged illegally displayed campaign materials, throwing the blame on rival Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama who is the chairman of Team Rama.

“Maybe he put it there to frame me. He should cite the jeepney number and prove that I put it there,” Osmeña said. —/JPM (FREEMAN)