Candidates given 2 days to dismantle illegal posters

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday issued a final warning to candidates to take down their illegal posters as the campaign period for local bets starts on March 29.

James Jimenez, Comelec director for education and information division, said almost all of the campaign posters of the candidates should be taken down because these are either oversized or outside the common poster areas.

“They have 24 hours to remove these because when the campaign period for local candidates starts on Friday, these will be considered illegal,” Jimenez said in an interview.

He said the Comelec would be documenting violations of campaign posters to be used in the filing of complaints for election offense against the candidates and their parties. 

The poll body sent notices to candidates and political parties to remind them to “remove unlawful election propaganda before the start of the campaign period.”

“Prohibited forms of election propaganda include those that are posted outside the common poster areas, in public places or private properties without the consent of the owners,” Jimenez said.

The Comelec ordered its regional directors to issue a similar reminder to local candidates to remove their illegal campaign posters.

As a policy, the poll body sends a notice to candidates about their violation. 

They would be given three days to remove their unlawful campaign propaganda, according to Jimenez.

“Failure to comply will result in the filing of election offense cases against them,” he said.

Political parties have until today to file a petition for accreditation as majority or minority parties in the coming midterm polls.

Based on Resolution 10514 promulgated on Monday, the deadline was set for political groups to apply for accreditation as among the 10 major and two local parties.

For the first time, the Comelec said incentives would be given to political parties that promote the “integration of women in their leadership hierarchy, internal policymaking structures, appointive and electoral nominating processes.”

Under the new criteria, political parties that will field at least 30 percent women candidates will be given a weighted average of 10 points.

A party that can field a complete slate of candidates from the municipal level up to the position of senator is given the highest weighted average of 40 points.

As a rule, the dominant majority and minority parties are entitled to get the fifth and sixth copies of election returns, respectively.

They will also receive the electronically transmitted precinct results, get the seventh and eighth copies of the certificates of canvass, respectively, and assign official watchers in polling places and canvassing centers.

In the 2016 polls, the Liberal Party was the major political party while minor political party was the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The major national parties were the Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Aksyon Demokratiko and National Unity Party.

The six major local parties are Kusog Baryohanon for Davao del Norte, United Negros Alliance for Negros Occidental, Partido Abe Kapampangan for Angeles City, Arangkada San Joseno for San Jose del Monte City, Achievement with Integrity Movement for General Santos City and Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran for the National Capital Region.